MOSCOW (Kyodo) The Russian Foreign Ministry requested Tuesday that Japan investigate a recent incident in which rightwing activists allegedly insulted a Russian flag outside the country's embassy in Tokyo.
The ministry summoned Keiji Ide, a minister in the Japanese Embassy in Moscow, and requested that the Japanese authorities punish those responsible for the alleged act.
Russia also asked Japan to fulfill its international obligations, ensure that the Russian mission can perform its functions properly and prevent similar incidents from happening again in the future, according to a statement issued by the ministry.
The alleged incident took place Monday, known in Japan as Northern Territories Day, with the Japanese activists dragging the Russian state flag on the ground, the Tass news agency said. The flag was torn, stained and then covered with black cross symbols all over, the report said.
