Japan decided Friday to add 36 individuals and 52 organizations linked to Russia to its list of sanctions imposed over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, as the war shows few signs of ending, threatening security in Europe and Asia.
The sanctions, including asset freezes and bans on exports by Japanese firms, target politicians, military officers, businesspeople, companies in Russia and regions in eastern and southern Ukraine, and others.
The move came as Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's government is aiming to put more pressure on Russia this year, with Japan chairing the Group of Seven industrialized nations that have led international efforts to maintain and reinforce punitive measures against Moscow.
Since Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine almost a year ago, Tokyo has imposed economic sanctions on Moscow in lockstep with Western countries, such as asset freezes on President Vladimir Putin and the nation's central bank.
Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Belousov, Justice Minister Konstantin Chuychenko and Deputy Defense Minister Mikhail Mizintsev were among those newly added to the Japanese sanctions list.
Kishida's government also said it will expand the list of items banned for export to Russia as they could be diverted to military use, effective Feb. 3.
"It is necessary for the international community, including the G-7, to band together and respond to the crisis with a decisive resolution" to protect peace and the global order, Japanese Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiji Kihara said at a press conference on Friday.
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