The Ministry of Justice included in the list of foreign NGOs whose activities are recognized as undesirable in Russia, the Japanese organization “Union of the inhabitants of the islands of Chisima and Habomai” (“Union of former residents of the Chisima and Habomai Islands”). This was reported in the Telegram channel of the department.
“The organization is included in the list in accordance with Parts 1, 4 and 7 of Article 3.1 of the Federal Law “On measures of influence on persons involved in violations of fundamental human rights and freedoms, rights and freedoms of citizens of the Russian Federation” based on the decision of the First Deputy Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation dated April 20, 2023,” the message says.
In April, the press service of the Prosecutor General’s Office clarified that the recognition of the organization as undesirable is due to the fact that its activities are aimed at violating the territorial integrity of Russia – the goal of the NGO is to “seize part of its territory from Russia” – the islands of Iturup, Kunashir and the Lesser Kuril ridge, which are included in the archipelago of the Kuril Islands.
As a result of World War II, Russia and Japan were unable to conclude a peace treaty due to the dispute over the South Kuriles. In 1956, the parties concluded the Moscow Declaration, after which the war was officially ended. But, according to Tokyo’s position, Russia must hand over to Japan the four southern islands of the Kuril chain (Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, Habomai Islands). Moscow, on the other hand, recognizes the USSR declaration of 1956, which refers to the possibility of transferring the two islands after the conclusion of a peace treaty.
In February, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida spoke of the need to conclude a peace treaty and settle the territorial dispute with Russia. At the same time, he stressed that Tokyo has not changed its position on the issue of ownership of the islands that make up the southern part of the Kuriles. At the same time, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, called the issue of a peace treaty with Japan closed, emphasizing the impossibility of negotiations due to the “openly unfriendly” position of Tokyo, which joined Western sanctions against Russia.