In response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, Nagasaki will not invite Russian Ambassador to Japan Mikhail Galuzin to the Aug. 9 event marking the 77th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the city, Mayor Tomihisa Taue said Thursday.
"While the event is a good opportunity to make a direct appeal for peace, we must also anticipate unforeseen circumstances" such as possible anti-Russia protests, Taue said.
The decision came after the Hiroshima Municipal Government said last week that it decided not to invite Russian President Vladimir Putin and Galuzin to the anniversary of the Aug. 6 bombing of the city.
The Nagasaki Municipal Government will also not invite Belarusian Ambassador to Japan Ruslan Esin to the event.
Last year, the city invited the ambassadors from more than 150 countries, including Russia and Belarus.
But if Nagasaki allowed the Russian and Belarus envoys to attend, "It could influence the decision of ambassadors from other countries whether to attend the ceremony," a city official said.
"We would like to hold the event in a solemn atmosphere," the official said.
Meanwhile, Nagasaki will hold the memorial ceremony on a larger scale compared with last year, although still at reduced numbers, as restrictions against the coronavirus pandemic have eased nationwide.
Around 1,700 people, or more than 40% of the capacity in an average year, are expected to attend, including A-bomb survivors, related officials and members of the public.
