UPDATE - Japan to expel Russian diplomats, impose fresh sanctions for Ukraine 'war crimes'

UPDATES WITH PRIME MINISTER'S REMARKS; REVISES HEADLINE, DECK

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – Japan will join its Western allies in expelling some Russians from the country over the war in Ukraine, local media reported on Friday.

Eight Russians, including diplomats, will be asked to leave the country, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said in a statement to Kyodo News.

Japan will also impose fresh sanctions against Russia for its “war crimes,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced later in the day.

“Russia has committed repeated violations of international humanitarian law by killing civilians and attacking nuclear power plants,” Kishida told a news conference.

“We will be implementing powerful sanctions to stop a further escalation, realize a cease-fire as soon as possible and end the invasion,” he added.

The new measures include a ban on import of coal and vodka from Russia, the premier said.

Tokyo will also “freeze assets held by major lenders Sberbank and Alfa Bank” and “halt new investments” in Russia, he added.

“The five-point sanctions list is part of Japan’s latest efforts to add economic and diplomatic pressure on Russia to prevent further escalation of the war in Ukraine and bring about a cease-fire,” Kishida said.

Tokyo has previously imposed sanctions on Moscow and indicated it plans to end its dependence on Russian energy imports, but has so far walked a cautious path on the matter.

Currently, Japan has sanctioned about 440 Russian individuals, including President Vladimir Putin, and the list will now be expanded to around 550.

Tokyo’s latest measures have also come after Moscow organized an international investment fair on the disputed Kuril Islands in its Far East region, which are also claimed by Tokyo.

Russia halted negotiations on the dispute after Japan started taking measures against it after the Ukraine war began on Feb. 24.