Japan tightens Russian sanctions in line with G7

Japan will freeze the assets of 78 groups and 17 individuals, including military officers in Russia, and ban exports to 80 Russian entities.

Japan has announced additional sanctions against Russia after the Group of Seven (G7) summit the country hosted last week agreed to step up measures to punish Moscow for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

In coordination with other G7 members, Japan will freeze the assets of 78 groups and 17 individuals, including military officers in Russia, and ban exports to 80 Russian entities, such as military-affiliated research labs, according to a statement from the State Department. which was released Friday.

Japan will also ban the provision of construction and engineering services to Russia, although details of the measure will be announced at a later date, a statement from the Commerce Ministry said.

Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, the Tokyo government’s top spokesperson, also condemned Russia’s move to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, saying it would further exacerbate the situation.

“As the only country to have experienced atomic bombing in a time of war, Japan will never accept Russia’s nuclear threat, let alone use it,” Matsuno said at a regular news conference on Friday.

G7 leaders, including France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States, at their summit in Hiroshima last week underlined their determination to support Ukraine with additional military aid and sanctions against Russia.

They said the restrictions would cover the export of industrial machinery, tools and technology useful to Russia’s war effort, while efforts would be made to limit Russian revenues from trade in metals and diamonds.