Japan urges Russia to release seized boat

Japan’s foreign ministry has called for the early release of the Japanese fishing boat and its crew from Russia. Russia has claimed that the Japanese yacht had entered its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) due to which it was confiscated. Japan has rejected this claim of Russia.

The Russian Coast Guard seized the Japanese yacht ‘AIHOMARU’ from the island of Skhalin in the Sea of Okhotsk last week. There were 14 crew members on board the boat at that time. After this Russia said that the Japanese boat had tried to escape and conducted dangerous maneuvers.
“Based on the analysis and explanation of the people concerned, Japan believes that the boat was fishing in the Japanese Exclusive Economic Zone,” Motegi said. We cannot accept the Russian protest and demand the release of the yacht and its crew as soon as possible.