MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday placed more Russian assets of Japan Tobacco Inc. under control, a day after signing a decree to seize assets of the Japanese company's four units in the country.
All shares in three Japan Tobacco units were put under temporary management of a Russian company, according to a presidential decree published on Friday.
The latest decree follows the earlier order to seize Russian assets of manufacturing operations belonging to JT International, a Geneva-based international business arm of the Japanese conglomerate, drawing protests from the Japanese government.
The Russian government said Thursday that Putin signed the decree in accordance with his executive order in April 2023 allowing placement of assets belonging to "individuals from unfriendly countries" under Russian control in response to sanctions against Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine.
Russia has been stepping up its pressure on Japan, including through Putin making his first visit to a Russian-held, Japanese-claimed island in August. A Japanese journalist was detained in the Russian Far East in October on suspicion of espionage.
The latest order announced on Friday applies to all shares held by JTI Investments Sarl in the three companies, Pereslavl-Tobacco, JTI Innovative Products and JTI Russia, according to Tass news agency.
Despite many Japanese companies having withdrawn from the Russian market following Russia's aggression against Ukraine, Japan Tobacco has continued to operate in the country.
