Putin's Closest Ally: "Kuril Islands Are Russian Territory, If Japan Is Sad, Let Them Commit Harakiri"

"Russia Must Accept Japanese Control Over Kuril Islands"
Published Alongside Photo of Samurai Seppuku Suicide

A photo of a samurai committing harakiri posted by Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, on his X (formerly Twitter) account. [Image source=X]

Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, sparked controversy by claiming on his social media (SNS) that the Kuril Islands (called the Northern Territories by Japan), which are subject to a territorial dispute with Japan, belong to Russia. The situation is expected to escalate diplomatically, especially as he posted a photo of a samurai committing seppuku.

According to CNN on the 31st (local time), Medvedev posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account the previous day, "Russia does not care about the feelings of the Japanese regarding the so-called 'Northern Territories.' This is not a disputed area but Russian territory." He added, "Samurai who feel particularly great sorrow can, if they wish, end their lives in the traditional way of seppuku." The post was accompanied by a photo of a 19th-century Japanese samurai committing seppuku.

Medvedev stated, "No one opposes a peace treaty with Japan. However, the territorial issue is completely closed according to the Russian Constitution," emphasizing, "Japan must also accept Russia’s development of the Kuril Islands and the deployment of new weapons there."

He also expressed resentment toward Japan for participating in U.S. and Western sanctions against Russia and continuing an anti-Russian policy. He harshly criticized the Japanese government, saying, "(Japan) clearly prefers to completely forget Hiroshima and Nagasaki and instead French kiss the United States."

Medvedev’s strong criticism of Japan stems from the ongoing territorial dispute over the Kuril Islands. The Kuril Islands have been a disputed area between Japan and Russia since the mid-19th century. The islands were occupied by the Soviet Union just before the end of World War II, and Russia currently exercises effective control over the archipelago.

Russia and Japan have previously negotiated a peace treaty and considered returning two of the four Kuril Islands to Japan. However, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and Japan’s immediate participation in sanctions against Russia, relations between the two countries deteriorated, and the plan was abandoned.