According to Russian Satellite News Agency, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zakharova stated on September 9 that Japan should forever repent for the war crimes committed by Japanese militarism in the 20th century.
She questioned the Japanese consulate general in Harbaivsk about whether it is more appropriate to reflect and request forgiveness than to express dissatisfaction with the memorial.
On the 4th, the city of Khabarovsk in the Far East of Russia held a ceremony to unveil a monument commemorating the victory over Japan. This monument is currently the largest in Russia dedicated to commemorating the victory over Japan. At the center of the monument stands a 15-meter-high statue of a Soviet soldier, representing the Red Army that defeated the main forces of the Japanese Kwantung Army. The soldier holds a long spear, and a boundary marker decorated with a chrysanthemum pattern was smashed in half.
Before the monument was unveiled, the Japanese Consulate in Baranovskaya approached Russia and requested modifications to the monument. Japanese Prime Minister Masayoshi Moume also posted a message on social media, demanding that the monument be removed by Russia.
According to Russian media reports, Zakharova said on the 9th that Japan should not lodge protests, but instead should repent for its past crimes.
The Japanese embassy in Khabarovsk has no right to make a three-four statement about the chrysanthemum pattern. They should forever repent, said Zaharova.
She pointed out that since the end of the 19th century, Japan has carried out aggressive and expansionist wars against neighboring countries. Japanese militarism committed numerous crimes, and the deadly weapons of that time were also adorned with the Chrysanthemum Crown, a symbol of the Japanese royal family.
Previously, Russian President's press secretary Peskov also responded to Japan regarding this matter, emphasizing that Moscow is unlikely to consider Japan's request to remove a monument commemorating the defeat of militarism in Japan.
Peskov said that we have not forgotten Japanese militarism, nor have we forgotten that victory. For example, we were surprised to find that at the commemorative events for the atomic bomb explosions in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, none of the Japanese leaders mentioned the United States—the only country in the world that has used nuclear weapons. It seems that the Japanese have also forgotten this fact. Therefore, it is difficult for us to take any consideration into such requests and statements.
