(MENAFN) The Russian Foreign Ministry revealed Tuesday that Moscow has imposed indefinite entry restrictions targeting 30 Japanese journalists and academic researchers, marking a direct retaliation against Tokyo's continuing sanctions regime over the Ukraine conflict.

Ministry officials characterized the move as reciprocal action necessitated by Japan's punitive measures. "As part of the response to the ongoing so-called sanctions actions of official Tokyo against our country, linked to a special military operation, it was decided to indefinitely ban 30 Japanese citizens from entering the Russian Federation," said the ministry.

The Foreign Ministry released comprehensive documentation identifying each sanctioned individual, including their complete legal names, institutional affiliations, and professional titles. The blacklist specifically targets media professionals and scholarly experts whose work has focused on Russian affairs.

This escalation represents the latest deterioration in Moscow-Tokyo diplomatic relations since Russia launched its military campaign in Ukraine. Japan has aligned closely with Western allies in implementing successive rounds of economic penalties against the Kremlin, triggering predictable countermeasures from Russian authorities.

The announcement underscores how Moscow continues leveraging visa restrictions as a tool of diplomatic warfare, systematically barring foreign nationals whose governments have opposed Russian geopolitical objectives. Tokyo has not yet issued an official response to the travel prohibitions.

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