Japan Tobacco is one of the world's biggest tobacco companies and holds around 40% of the Russian cigarette market, according to media reports. (EPA Images pic)TOKYO: Tokyo said Friday it had demanded the immediate release of Japan Tobacco's assets seized in Russia, as relations with Moscow sour following the arrest of a Japanese journalist on spying allegations.
The seizure, which the Kremlin ordered Thursday, is the latest move against a foreign company's Russian operations under rules that Moscow casts as retribution for international sanctions.
Japan Tobacco is one of the world's biggest tobacco companies and holds around 40% of the Russian cigarette market, according to media reports.
Japanese government spokesman Minoru Kihara said that two senior officials from Tokyo visiting Russia "had lodged a protest with the Russian government together with the ambassador of Japan to Russia, and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the measure".
