Putin decree places four Japan Tobacco Russian units under temporary management

Key facts

• Putin signed the decree on November 5, 2026, placing four Japan Tobacco Russian subsidiaries under temporary management.
• The decree names a local entity as temporary manager of the four units, per Nikkei Asia.
• Nikkei Asia reported the move is the latest in strained Russia-Japan relations.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on November 5, 2026 placing four Russian subsidiaries of Japan Tobacco under temporary management by a local entity, Nikkei Asia reported. The report said the move is the latest step in strained relations between Russia and Japan.

Nikkei Asia reported that Putin has been placing assets of foreign companies under external management through presidential decrees. The report did not name the local entity that will manage the Japan Tobacco units, and it did not state the value of the subsidiaries or the terms of the arrangement.