During the tenure of Governor Koike, Russia was sanctioned for the first time, and now Russia has announced that it will take reciprocal countermeasures.
According to reports by Russian news agency Interfax and TASS on October 5, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zakharova stated that the Japanese government's 'hostile measures' against Russia will not go unaddressed.
"Tokyo's unfriendly actions will not go unpunished and we will take corresponding countermeasures. These measures will first target Japanese areas with interests at stake." Zhaholova stated.
Zaharova said: 'We believe this once again proves that Tokyo's foreign policy lacks independence. Its foreign policy is not determined by its own national interests, but is subject to Japan's unconditional following of so-called 'like-minded partners' within the Euro-Atlantic community. These countries are pathologically obsessed with achieving 'strategic failure' for Russia.'
On October 2nd, the Japanese government announced a new round of sanctions against Russia. According to Japanese sources, this sanction includes 33 additional Russian entities and 9 individuals. The measures include freezing assets, restricting capital transactions and services, as well as limiting the export of goods that could enhance Russia's industrial capabilities.
Furthermore, Japan has implemented restrictions on 35 ships deemed related to Russia. Zaharova particularly emphasized that this is the first time Japan's sanctions have involved maritime shipping.
Zaharova criticized Japan for using the Ukraine situation as a pretext to justify these sanctions. She said that the Japanese government is taking “irresponsible steps,” further deteriorating the already strained relations between Russia and Japan. She also accused Tokyo of trying to present the sanctions as a “contribution” to a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine issue.
Zaharova stated that Russia will take 'proportional countermeasures', and explicitly mentioned that the countermeasures will 'first target areas of concern to Japan'. Currently, Russia has not announced specific measures.
