The government has lodged a protest over the recent visit by Russia's health care minister to one of the disputed islands off Hokkaido claimed by Japan, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Tuesday.
Suga called Saturday's trip by Veronika Skvortsova to Shikotan "extremely regrettable" and "unacceptable as it goes against Japan's position on the territorial issue."
Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida also criticized Russia for seizing a Japanese salmon and trout fishing boat Friday near the disputed islands, describing it as "unacceptable."