Four thousand workers in Rostov-on-Don, Yelets, and St. Petersburg woke up under a newly appointed temporary administration this week after Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin signed an order seizing the Russian assets of Japan Tobacco International, lsm.lv reported.
Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded by lodging a formal protest note with the Russian ambassador in Tokyo. The move targets the largest cigarette manufacturer in the Russian market, handing operational control over to a firm named Promishlenniye Aktivi.
Tokyo Demands Reversal as Assets Move to Temporary Management
Japanese officials moved quickly to contest the Kremlin’s decree. Foreign Ministry representative Kimitake Nakamura and Finance Minister Satsuki Katajama both called on Moscow to cancel the confiscation immediately.
Japan has repeatedly called on Russia to respect the legitimate interests of Japanese citizens and enterprises.
Katajama added that Tokyo will continue monitoring developments closely while deciding on further actions alongside the corporate leadership. JTI’s Russian arm currently accounts for roughly 10 percent of the company’s total global turnover, according to figures cited by Kyodo News.
Decades of Market Presence and the Legacy of Donskoj Tabak
The takeover caps more than two decades of continuous operations for the Japanese manufacturer inside Russia. JTI first established its footprint in the country back in 1999.
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The company dramatically expanded its market dominance in 2018 by acquiring the Russian tobacco producer Donskoj Tabak. That purchase solidified its position as the top cigarette maker in the country.
When most multinational corporations abandoned the Russian market following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, JTI maintained its commercial activities. That long-standing presence has now culminated in a state-directed asset transfer.
| Metric / Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Affected Facilities | Plants in Rostov-on-Don, Yelets, and St. Petersburg |
| Local Workforce | Approximately 4,000 employees |
| Market Entry | 1999 |
| Key Acquisition | Donskoj Tabak (2018) |
| Global Share | Roughly 10% of JTI’s total turnover |
The Japanese government has not yet detailed what specific countermeasures it might deploy if Moscow ignores the diplomatic protest. Meanwhile, operations at the three regional production hubs continue under the newly assigned management structure.
