Russia Slams Japan's Protest Over Russian Officials' Visits to Kurils

On Thursday, Japan’s government lodged a complaint with the Russian embassy in light of the visit of a senior Russian official to Iturup, one of the Kuril Islands.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russian officials will continue working visits to the Kuril Islands despite protests by Japan, which are unfounded and unacceptable, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday.

"We would like to reiterate that Moscow will not take into account Tokyo's position while determining the working schedule of the government officials. These trips…will continue," the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry stressed that by insisting on the unfounded claims on the four Kuril Islands Japan "demonstrates its blatant disregard for the commonly-accepted outcome of the Second World War."

The Kuril Islands, located in the Sea of Okhotsk, have long been subject to a dispute between Russia and Japan since the sides failed to sign a permanent peace treaty following the end of World War II.

The four islands — Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and Habomai — have been administered by Russia since the end of WWII, but the Japanese government still lays claim to them.