Japan extends sanctions against Russia over war against Ukraine

Radio Liberty reports that the sanctions list includes dozens of companies, including those from China and four other countries. According to Tokyo, these companies are helping Russia avoid sanctions by purchasing electronics for military use.

The sanctions targeted 11 individuals and 42 organizations from Russia. Among them are Alrosa, Ilyushin Aviation Complex, Tupolev Concern, two production facilities of Almaz-Antey Concern, Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant, Perm Powder Plant, Arzamas Instrument-Making Plant, and other military-industrial companies.

Seven Chinese companies that assisted Russia in acquiring electronics, as well as one company each from India, Kazakhstan, the UAE, and Uzbekistan, are also subject to the restrictions. These companies' assets in Japan will be frozen, and Japanese firms and citizens are now prohibited from conducting transactions with them.

The sanctions have been imposed on the Secretary of the Russian Central Election Commission, Natalia Budarina, and five other commission members, as well as the head of Tactical Rocketry, Boris Obnosov, the director of Uralvagonzavod, Alexander Potapov, among others.

A week prior, the United States had imposed sanctions on Chinese companies aiding Russia in purchasing electronics.

Japan has consistently supported Ukraine since Russia's invasion. Japanese authorities have ceased exporting various types of equipment, machinery, transport, and industrial goods to Russia.

• On May 24, Japan and South Korea expanded their sanctions lists against Russia over arms purchases from North Korea. Nine Russian companies, two Cypriot firms, and Vladimir Mikheichik, CEO of the Russian state-owned 224th Flight Detachment, were subjected to the restrictions.
• On April 5, the Japanese Ministry of Commerce published a list of 164 categories of industrial goods banned from being supplied to Russia. These sanctions cover lithium-ion batteries, gas pipes, motor oil for cars, thermostats, nitrocellulose products, and woodworking machines. Additionally, exports of photographic equipment, hand-held power tools, tungsten powder, molybdenum, cobalt, zirconium, and rhenium were banned.