Press Releases
Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. MORI summons Mr. Mikhail Y. GALUZIN, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Japan
September 27, 2022
On the morning of September 27, following the request on September 26 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation to the Embassy of Japan in Russia, seeking the expulsion of a consular officer at the Consulate-General of Japan in Vladivostok as a persona non grata on the account of conducting illegal information collection activities, Mr. MORI Takeo, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, summoned Mr. Mikhail Y. GALUZIN, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Japan, and stated the following points.
- The series of acts by Russia, which constitute taking a consular officer of the Consulate-General of Japan in Vladivostok away in a physically coercive manner and conducting an intimidating interrogation, are a clear and serious violation of relevant provisions, including “personal inviolability of consular officers” stipulated in the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. It is extremely regrettable, and absolutely unacceptable to Japan.
- In addition, the consular officer was performing normal official duties as a consular officer, and the acts by Russia are a clear and serious violation of the Japan-Soviet Consular Convention, which provides that consular officers shall enjoy immunity from the jurisdiction of the receiving State.
- Moreover, it is an unbelievable act that Russia notified the expulsion of the consular officer as a persona non grata despite such unjustifiable treatment by Russia, and Japan lodges a strong protest.
- The Government of Japan lodges a serious protest and demands a formal apology and the prevention of recurrence from Russia. In addition, the Government of Japan will take appropriate measures.