Tokyo protests Russian official’s visit to Iturup island

The Japanese government has protested to Russia in connection with the visit of Yury Trutnev, deputy prime minister and presidential envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District, to the island of Iturup.

On Tuesday, July 4, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Trutnev held a meeting in Kurilsk on Iturup island on the issue of ensuring the effective functioning of preferential treatment on the Kuril island chain.

"What has happened does not correspond to our country's position on the northern territories and is totally unacceptable," Tokyo reacted to the Russian official's visit, TASS reports citing Kyodo agency.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, commenting on Japan's protest, said she advised Tokyo to learn more about the Kuril Islands' ownership.

"It's time for Tokyo to know that Iturup Island belongs to Russia," Ms. Zakharova wrote on her Telegram channel.