The Foreign Ministry announced on Friday that Russia has stopped accepting Japanese humanitarian aid to the Kuril Islands, which have been receiving the assistance for 18 years.
“The Japanese side has received explanations that there is no need for further humanitarian aid,” the ministry said in a statement, without elaborating.
The ministry has asked the Japanese Embassy to inform all Japanese organizations involved in providing the aid about the decision.
Both Russia and Japan will still provide joint humanitarian aid to the islands in emergencies threatening the lives or health of residents, the ministry said.
A Japanese Embassy spokeswoman said no one was available for comment Friday, and repeated calls to the Foreign Ministry press office went unanswered.
The Foreign Ministry’s web site had no information about the volume of aid that Japan had provided to the Kuril Islands.
Russia and Japan have been disputing ownership of the islands since the waning days of World War II, when they were seized by the Soviet Union.
Tensions escalated in June, when Japan’s parliament declared the four southern Kuril Islands — Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and Habomai — “primordial Japanese islands,” igniting a furor in Russia.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.