Moscow 6 September : Russia has terminated an agreement with Tokyo regarding the facilitation of trips of Japanese citizens to four disputable Pacific islands according to a government order.The agreement that was signed in 1999 permitted former residents as well as relatives of these islands referred to as the Southern Kurils in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan, to visit the Russian-controlled islands without having to obtain a visa, Xinhua news agency reported.
The Russian Foreign Ministry announced its intention to end visa-free travel in March in response to Japan’s anti-Russian sanctions in relation to the current situation in Ukraine.
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