MOSCOW, August 22 (RAPSI) – Russia has presented Friday a list of Japan nationals who are banned from entering the country as a retaliatory measure to Tokyo’s visa sanctions, the statement on the Russian foreign ministry's website reads.

Japanese Ambassador in Russia Chikahito Harada was given the list after a meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov.

Japan is one of the countries, including the U.S. and Australia, that introduced sanctions against Russian businessmen, politicians and companies over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Tokyo followed Washington which first imposed travel bans on Russian and Ukrainian officials deemed responsible for the Crimean crisis.

On March 18, Japan introduced the first package of sanctions. Tokyo decided to suspend consultations with Moscow on easing visa regulations and signing of agreements on investment cooperation, joint space exploration and prevention of dangerous military activity.

In late April, Japan imposed a visa ban on 23 Russian officials whose names were kept secret.

In early August, Japan promptly blacklisted 40 individuals and two companies for their alleged “complicity in destabilizing the situation in Ukraine and annexing Crimea by Russia.” Their accounts in Japanese banks, if any, are frozen.