Kremlin Values Travel Warning To Russia Proof Of Japan's Side To The West

Shibuya Intersection in Tokyo, Japan. (Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Japan has issued a travel warning for its citizens who intend to travel to Russia. In response, Russia considered the regulation to be proof of Japan's alignment with the West.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Japanese leaders were trying to pressure their citizens to improve relations with Russia.

"It is clear that Tokyo is dominated by figures who do not support the development of bilateral relations. Unfortunately, Japan's current leadership has expressed solidarity with Western collective actions that are unfriendly to Russia, and this is inevitable to harm our bilateral relations," Peskov told Kyodo news agency, quoted from the Hindustan Times, Monday 29 July.

Kyodo also reported that a senior Japanese lawmaker who is close to Russia Muneo Suzuki is currently in Moscow.

Muneo is said to be in talks with Moscow representatives against the Japanese Government's advice to its citizens to avoid a trip to Russia.

According to Kyodo news agency, the appeal made by Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi to its citizens regarding travel warning to Russia is urgently enforced, including to legislators.

Russia and Tokyo are known to have long been involved in territorial disputes over four islands off the coast of Japan. The dispute is still unresolved.