The government of Russia’s far-eastern Sakhalin region says the country’s deputy prime minister visited an island in the area. The island is part of the group of Russian-held islands claimed by Japan.
The Russian local government announced on Friday that Yury Trutnev, who serves as presidential envoy to the Far East, made the visit along with Alexei Chekunkov, minister for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic.
They reportedly landed on Etorofu Island, one of four northern islands controlled by Russia. Japan claims them. The Japanese government maintains the islands are an inherent part of Japan’s territory. It says the islands were illegally occupied after World War Two.
Trutnev’s visit appears to be the first by a senior Kremlin official to Japan’s Northern Territories since the start of President Vladimir Putin’s fifth term. Trutnev last visited Etorofu in July of last year.
Trutnev and others reportedly inspected the site of an investment project involving lodging and tourism, and stressed the importance of expanding investments in that and other fields.
In response to the visit, Japan’s foreign ministry lodged a protest with the Russian Embassy in Tokyo. One of the ministry officials told the Russian side that any visit by Russian senior officials to illegally-occupied Etorofu Island is never acceptable as it is against Japan’s stance relating to territorial issues.
A former resident of Etorofu, who represents the group of former islanders expressed his regret and said the visit is unforgivable, as this happened amid the suspension of peace treaty negotiations with Japan. He said he hopes that a similar event will not continue to happen.
In June, Putin showed a hardline stance on the resumption of stalled peace treaty negotiations with Japan. He said conditions were not yet ready for his country to continue the talks.
Putin also said in January that he will definitely make his first visit to the islands in the future.