MOSCOW, August 16 (RIA Novosti) - A Russian deputy foreign minister met the Japanese ambassador in Moscow Wednesday, and reiterated his country's position on the death of a suspected Japanese poacher in Russian territorial waters.
A row broke out between Moscow and Tokyo after Russia shot dead a Japanese crewmember on a fishing vessel allegedly poaching in Russian territorial waters near the disputed Kuril Islands.
"The Russian side expressed deep regret over the death of a crew member of the Japanese fishing boat during the arrest of the boat on August 16 for poaching in Russian territorial waters near southern Kuril Islands," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement following the meeting.
The statement said the Japanese side was responsible for the incident because the crew had violated Russian laws and refused to obey the orders of Russian border guards.
