Russia bans entry of 13 Japanese nationals including Toyota and Rakuten chairmen

On the 23rd (local time), the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it has decided to impose a permanent entry ban on 13 Japanese individuals, including Akio Toyoda, Chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation, in retaliation for Japan's sanctions against Russia.

In a statement released that day, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "In response to Japan's ongoing sanctions against our country related to the Ukraine 'special military operation,' we are indefinitely banning the entry of 13 individuals into the Russian Federation." The entry ban list includes Akio Toyoda, Chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation; Hiroshi Mikitani, founder of Rakuten; and Akihiko Tanaka, Chairman of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Among them, Hiroshi Mikitani accompanied Yoshimasa Hayashi, Japan's Foreign Minister, on his visit to Ukraine last year.

On the same day, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also decided to ban the entry of 15 British nationals into Russia in response to the UK's anti-Russian policies. The ministry explained that executives of companies involved in training Ukrainian troops or supplying products and services to the Ukrainian military, as well as experts and journalists writing from an anti-Russian stance, have been placed on the blacklist.

Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak announced that the ban on gasoline exports will be reinstated starting August 1. According to TASS news agency, Deputy Prime Minister Novak stated, "Currently, an exception is being applied for the entire month of July regarding the gasoline export ban. This exception will not apply from August 1," adding, "If it is deemed necessary to continue the export ban in September and October, such a decision will be made." Previously, Russia announced a ban on gasoline exports from March to August to prevent domestic fuel shortages and price surges, but due to concerns about side effects, the ban was temporarily lifted from mid-May to the end of July.