Japan protests Russian takeover of Japan Tobacco operations
Japan lodged a formal diplomatic protest demanding that Russia reverse its placement of Japan Tobacco assets under temporary state control, Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said Friday. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree Thursday covering all four of the company’s Russian manufacturing operations. A Japan Tobacco spokeswoman said temporary administration does not constitute nationalization or requisition; the company said it was gathering information and assessing the potential impact.