Hayashi: Russia's Expulsion Of Japanese Diplomats 'unacceptable'
Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa has protested Russia's decision to expel eight Japanese diplomatic workers.
Russia's Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that eight diplomats and officials at the Japanese Embassy in Moscow must leave Russia by May 10.
It described the move as a countermeasure to Tokyo's decision earlier this month to expel eight Russian diplomats and officials over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Hayashi said in a Diet committee session on Thursday that the Russian invasion is a clear breach of international law. He added that the killings of numerous innocent civilians are serious war crimes in violation of international humanitarian law and are absolutely unacceptable.
Hayashi pointed out it is Russia that caused this situation by resorting to military means. He said is it totally unacceptable that Russia has decided to expel Japanese officials, despite being fully responsible for taking Japan-Russia relations to their current state.