Press Releases
Director-General Dr. NAKAMURA summons Mr. Nikolai NOZDREV, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Japan
October 14, 2026
- On October 14, Dr. NAKAMURA Kimitake Director-General of the European Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, summoned Mr. Nikolai NOZDREV, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Japan, and made a demarche regarding the announcement by the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) that it had detained a Japanese national in Sakhalin Oblast, as well as the visit to Etorofu Island by those involved from Heilongjiang Province, China.
- Regarding the announcement made by the FSB on October 13, Director-General NAKAMURA requested that information be provided promptly. He also strongly urged that the detained Japanese national be treated in a humane, fair and impartial manner. He strongly protested that, while the Government of Japan had received no explanation regarding the detained Japanese national as of this point, the Russian side had detained the individual and unilaterally issued a public statement regarding this issue. He then requested that an opportunity for the detained Japanese national to contact the Government of Japan be arranged promptly. In response, Ambassador NOZDREV stated that he would convey the position of the Government of Japan to his Government.
- Regarding the announcement by the Government of Sakhalin Oblast, Russia, on October 13, that officials of the Government of Heilongjiang Province, China, and business representatives from the province had visited Etorofu Island, Director-General NAKAMURA conveyed that the Northern Territories are an inherent territory of Japan, both historically and under international law, and that Japan cannot accept the entry to and activities in the Northern Territories by government officials or business representatives of third countries in a manner that treats the Northern Territories as if they were Russian territory. He also strongly urged the Russian side to take appropriate measures. In response, Ambassador NOZDREV explained the Russian side's position, to which Director-General NAKAMURA clearly rebutted based on Japan's position.
- The Government of Japan will continue to make every effort to ensure the protection of Japanese nationals overseas and to address the issue of the Northern Territories.