As stated in the Russian Foreign Ministry, the deputy head of the department, Igor Morgulov, drew the ambassador's attention to the unacceptability of Tokyo's "protests" in connection with Russia's actions on its sovereign territory.
The Japanese side’s comments regarding the visit to this region of the Sakhalin Region “border on an attempt to intervene in the internal affairs of Russia,” noted there.
“At the same time, Kozuki was given a note expressing strong protest in connection with the facts of violations in the South Kuril Islands committed by Japanese participants in visa-free exchanges with the islands. The Japanese side was pointed out the need for a conscientious approach to the formation of visa-free groups, ”the ministry said in a statement.
Tokyo previously expressed protest to Moscow over the exercises in the Kuril Islands.
The Japanese Foreign Ministry also said that the visit of Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to Iturup was "incompatible with the position of Japan" on the issue of the Kuril Islands, and called it extremely unfortunate.
Medvedev noted that the protests of the Japanese side do not cause concern for the Russian government.