TOKYO, April 5. /TASS/. Export restrictions against Moscow announced by Japan on Friday are another anti-Russia step taken by the administration of the country’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, a representative of the Russian embassy in Tokyo told TASS.

"We consider those restrictions as another unfriendly anti-Russia step taken by the administration of Kishida," the diplomatic mission said. Meanwhile "the restrictions taken basically specialize the sanctions package introduced by Japan in March 1 this year," the embassy added.

Tokyo introduced another package of sanctions against Russia on March 1 as it blacklisted 12 individuals and 36 organizations. Moreover, the Japanese government announced the ban on export to Russia of goods that might facilitate the strengthening of Russia’s industrial potential, though it did not specify them. It was also announced then that in addition to ban on import of non-industrial diamonds from Russia Japan would ban purchases of such diamonds even if they were processed outside of Russia. However, the date of this ban coming into force was not mentioned.

On April 5, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan specified the list of goods prohibited from being exported to Russia. Some 164 categories of goods were added to the list, including motor oils, lithium-ion batteries, pipes for oil and gas pipelines, nitrocellulose and more. New trade restrictions will be enforced on April 17.

As has been announced, Japan will ban imports of non-industrial diamonds of Russian origin beginning from May 10. The ban applies to diamonds weighting 1 karat or more. Smaller diamonds will require permission from the minister of economy, trade and industry.

Russia has repeatedly criticized unilateral sanctions as illegitimate and ineffective.