November 2, 2010

The Japanese Communist Party held a street action on November 1 in protest against Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's visit that day to Russian-held Kunashiri Island off Hokkaido.

In front of Sapporo Station, members of the JCP Hokkaido Prefectural Committee appealed to passers-by that the reckless action taken by the Russian leader is causing increasing anger among former Kunashiri islanders, who had been expelled by the Soviet Union in disregard of international law with nothing but the clothes on their back. They cannot even visit their ancestors’ graves or have access to possessions or property they had left in Kunashiri, the protesters expressed.

They also stressed that the Japanese government should call on the Russian government to swiftly return the Chishima Islands to Japan based on international law.
- Akahata, November 2, 2010