<p>Russia said Wednesday it has banned entry to several dozen Japanese officials, including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, after Tokyo joined international sanctions against Moscow over its military campaign in Ukraine.</p>.<p>"The administration of F. Kishida launched an unprecedented anti-Russian campaign (and) allows unacceptable rhetoric against the Russian Federation, including slander and direct threats," the foreign ministry said in a statement.</p>.<p>"It is echoed by public figures, experts, representatives of Japanese media, who are completely engaged by the attitudes of the West towards our country," the ministry added.</p>.<p>It accused Tokyo of taking "practical steps aimed at dismantling good neighbourly ties, damaging the Russian economy and the international prestige of the country".</p>.<p>The ministry said it was "indefinitely" banning from Russia 63 Japanese citizens, including the prime minister, cabinet members, lawmakers, journalists and professors.</p>.<p>Kishida retorted that it was "Russia that brought Japan-Russia relations to this point".</p>.<p>"It is Russia who invited such situations by resorting to military steps," he told journalists accompanying him on a trip to Italy and the Vatican.</p>.<p>Russia's "killing of innocent civilians is a significant violation of international humanitarian law," he said. "We cannot forgive this".</p>
<p>Russia said Wednesday it has banned entry to several dozen Japanese officials, including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, after Tokyo joined international sanctions against Moscow over its military campaign in Ukraine.</p>.<p>"The administration of F. Kishida launched an unprecedented anti-Russian campaign (and) allows unacceptable rhetoric against the Russian Federation, including slander and direct threats," the foreign ministry said in a statement.</p>.<p>"It is echoed by public figures, experts, representatives of Japanese media, who are completely engaged by the attitudes of the West towards our country," the ministry added.</p>.<p>It accused Tokyo of taking "practical steps aimed at dismantling good neighbourly ties, damaging the Russian economy and the international prestige of the country".</p>.<p>The ministry said it was "indefinitely" banning from Russia 63 Japanese citizens, including the prime minister, cabinet members, lawmakers, journalists and professors.</p>.<p>Kishida retorted that it was "Russia that brought Japan-Russia relations to this point".</p>.<p>"It is Russia who invited such situations by resorting to military steps," he told journalists accompanying him on a trip to Italy and the Vatican.</p>.<p>Russia's "killing of innocent civilians is a significant violation of international humanitarian law," he said. "We cannot forgive this".</p>