Overview
- Russia announced on November 11 that it closed entry to 30 Japanese nationals, naming Foreign Ministry representative Toshihiro Kitamura among those listed.
- The bans are indefinite, according to statements released by the Russian Foreign Ministry and reported by state media.
- Russian officials said the action answers what they describe as an unprecedented anti‑Russian campaign by Tokyo and Japanese sanctions on Russian citizens.
- Japan expressed regret over the decision, lodged a protest through diplomatic channels, and said it seeks to maintain appropriate engagement with Russia.
- Those barred include journalists and academics, and the move continues a cycle of reciprocal restrictions dating back to 2022, including a 2022 round targeting 384 lawmakers and a March 2025 ban on nine figures such as Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwai.