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Japan Thursday brushed aside Russia's demand for criminal action against Japanese nationalists who allegedly "desecrated" a Russian flag over a territorial dispute. The right-wingers allegedly dragged the national flag along the ground in front of the Russian embassy in Tokyo on February 7 in protest of Russia's occupation of the Kuril Islands, called the Northern Territories by Japan. On Wednesday, the Russian foreign ministry lodged a protest over the case by summoning Keiji Ide, a diplomat at the Japanese embassy in Moscow, and urged Tokyo to launch a new investigation. However, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano rejected the request. "We have shown our conclusion that the incident did not violate our domestic laws," Edano said. The Russian foreign ministry said Wednesday Russia has banned entry of the leaders and representatives of two Japanese extremist organizations linked to the row, Xinhua reported. The Molodaya Gvardia (Young Guard), the youth wing of the ruling United Russia party, said Thursday that they would place a Russian flag on a 10-meter flag pole on the disputed islets March 15, AFP reported. "On the southernmost point of Kunashir a Russian flag and a banner reading 'The Kurils are Russian territory' will be put up," spokeswoman Yanina Sergeyava said. Agencies |
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