Japan Expels Russian Diplomat In Retorsion Move

Japan and Russia have been engaged in a diplomatic case face-off in recent times that have led to to the expulsion of diplomats by both countries. The latest tiff started after Russia expelled a Japanese consular official over allegations of spying.

Last week, top government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno said that Japan denied the espionage allegations and said their consular official had been “blindfolded, with pressure applied to both his hands and head so he was unable to move while being detained, and then he was questioned in an overbearing way.”

” Tuesday, the foreign ministry said in a statement that it would expel a Russian consul in the northern city of Sapporo “as a corresponding measure to Russia’s actions.” “The Japanese government declared one consul from the Russian consulate general’s office in Sapporo persona non grata, and demanded that the person leave Japan in six days, which is to say by Oct. 10,” it said in a statement.”

Source: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/10/04/kremlin-hails-musks-attempt-at-ukraine-peace-deal-a78973#:~:text=Tuesday%2C%20the%20foreign,in%20a%20statement.

Russia and Japan have been on the negotiation table over the final status of the oil-rich Sakhalin Islands, which Russia siezed from Japan at the close of the Second World War.