Russia summons Japanese ambassador over Putin’s Kuril visit

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has insisted that Japan’s ambassador to Russia appear at the Russian Foreign Ministry after Tokyo protested President Vladimir Putin’s visit to the disputed Kuril Islands.

Lavrov said the Japanese Embassy had indicated that the ambassador could not visit the ministry on August 14 or 17, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

“Our Japanese colleagues, our neighbors, have, of course, crossed the line of decency with their completely unacceptable statements that the President of the Russian Federation cannot visit any part of the territory of the Russian Federation,” Lavrov said.

He stressed that the Japanese ambassador would be expected to appear at the Foreign Ministry to discuss Tokyo’s protest over Putin’s visit to Iturup, one of the Kuril Islands, as well as issues concerning the ambassador’s activities in Russia.

By Vafa Guliyeva