BSS
  15 Jul 2022, 23:23

Russia sanctions 384 Japanese lawmakers over Ukraine

MOSCOW, July  15, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Russia on Friday banned 384 Japanese 
lawmakers from entering its territory in response to Tokyo aligning itself with 
international sanctions against Moscow over Ukraine.
       The Russian foreign ministry blacklisted the parliamentarians, naming them 
on its website and accusing them of "adopting an unfriendly, anti-Russian 
position notably by expressing unfounded accusations against our country 
concerning the special military operation in Ukraine."
       Russia on July 1 published a decree transferring Japan's stake in the 
Sakhalin-2 oil and gas project on Sakhalin, an island in Russia's far east, to 
a Russian operator.
       The bulk of the project's liquid natural gas (LNG) output had until now 
been delivered to Japan.
       Tokyo had earlier indicated it hoped to retain its stake, saying 
participation in the project was essential to its energy security as Japan is 
highly dependent on fossil fuel imports.
       Some eight percent of Japan's LNG imports have so far come from Russia.
       In May, the Russian foreign ministry said it had banned entry to several 
dozen Japanese officials, including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, over Tokyo 
joining international sanctions against Moscow over its military campaign in 
Ukraine.