Pro-Moscow Japan lawmaker visits Russia in defiance of government advice

A Japanese lawmaker who has long championed close ties with Moscow has met with a senior Russian Foreign Ministry official, the ministry said Monday, on a trip that defied Japanese government advice against its nationals including legislators traveling to the country.Muneo Suzuki, a member of the opposition Japan Innovation Party, met with Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko during the first known visit by a Japanese lawmaker to Russia since its invasion of Ukraine began in February last year.Suzuki, a veteran lawmaker hailing from Hokkaido, northern Japan, arrived in Russia on Sunday an…READ FULL ARTICLE