Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga rejected criticism by Russia on Wednesday, after Moscow summoned Japan's ambassador and accused Tokyo of trying to interfere in Russian domestic affairs.
Earlier in the day, Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Morgulov admonished Japan's Ambassador Toyohisa Kozuki over what Morgulov is reported to have described as "commentary" by Japan about recent Russian visits to and military activities on disputed islands off Hokkaido.
In the meeting, Morgulov characterized statements by Tokyo as "tantamount to attempts to meddle in Russia's internal affairs," according to a report by Russian news agency TASS.