Japan announces fresh sanctions against Russia
Tokyo, May 10 (EFE).- Japan Tuesday announced a new round of sanctions against Russia for committing crimes against humanity in its war against Ukraine.
They include the freezing of assets of 141 people, including Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, and a ban on exports to 71 Russian companies.
The new measures are part of “international efforts” for peace in Ukraine, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
On Monday, Tokyo announced that it would phase out Russian crude oil imports.
Others slapped with sanctions include senior political, business, and military officials from Moscow and the pro-Russian republics of Luhansk and Donetsk.
Japan will also ban exports to 71 Russian companies and scientific research institutions and prohibit sales to the neighboring country of certain high-tech products, including quantum computers.
Japan earlier banned exports of semiconductors and microchips to Russia that the Russian military industry could use.
It also halted sales of luxury cars to Russia.
Top government spokesperson Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters Tuesday that Japan had approved the new sanctions in coordination with the Group of Seven (G7) countries after online and face-to-face meetings between Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and leaders from the bloc in recent weeks.
Matsuno said Japan was “shocked” to see the situation in Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis and destruction of cities like Mariupol that the Russian invasion of the country had brought about.
The spokesperson accused Moscow of committing inhumane acts. EFE
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