TOKYO, August 04. /ITAR-TASS/. While Japan is finishing work on a new package of sanctions against Russia because of developments in Ukraine, a Japanese right-wing politician blasted Western sanctions against Russia as unfair and counter-productive,

“The West continues applying double standards to Russia. I believe that sanctions against Russia because of Crimea’s accession and the situation in eastern Ukraine are unfair and counter-productive,” chairman of Issuikai, a Japanese right-wing group, told ITAR-TASS on Monday ahead of a visit to Crimea.

Mitsuhiro Kimura said the Japanese government was finishing work on a new package of sanctions against Russia, expressing confidence, however, that the Japanese government was “sincerely interested in continuing a dialogue with Russia”. “I will personally insist on that in my appeals to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe,” the politician said.

During a four-day trip to Crimea, the Issuikai delegation he leads plans to meet with politicians and public figures, including Crimean State Council speaker Vladimir Konstantinov. “We respect the choice of Crimea that wants to be with Russia,” Kimura said.

“I call on Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko to stop attacks on Donetsk and other cities in the east of the country and sit down at the negotiating table,” Kimura said. “The east and the west of Ukraine must immediately launch a peace dialogue,” he added.

Issuikai is one of the biggest ultra-right public and political organizations of Japan, set up in 1972 by followers of renowned writer Yukio Mishima. Issuikai and its present leader favor a Japanese policy independent from the US, as well as a reform of the United Nations Organization.