As stated on the prosecutor's website, the Association 'exploits the topic of the so-called 'northern territories', which refers to the Russian islands of Iturup, Kunashir, and the islands of the Lesser Kuril Ridge, and publicly declares non-recognition of Russian jurisdiction over them'. In addition, it distributes literature and souvenirs containing 'elements of cartographic expansion'.
In June 2024, a group of State Duma deputies appealed to the agency with a request to recognize the Japanese organization as 'undesirable' on the territory of Russia. 'The Association for Northern Territories Issues, created by the decision of the Japanese government under the supervision of the cabinet of ministers. Their task is to achieve the transfer of part of the 'northern territories' — as they call our islands Kunashir, Iturup. The Association continues this extremist activity related to encroachment on the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation,' said Deputy Vasily Piskarev at the time.
The 'Association for Northern Territories Issues' aims for educational activities. 'The problem of the Northern territories is that at the end of World War II, Soviet troops invaded four Northern islands (the Habomai archipelago, Shikotan Island, Kunashir Island, and Iturup Island), which are the ancestral territories of our state, and to this day Russia continues to occupy them without legal grounds,' says the organization's website.
The register of 'undesirable' organizations has been maintained in Russia since 2015. Foreign or international organizations that, according to the authorities, pose a 'threat to the foundations of the constitutional order of the Russian Federation, the country's defense capability, or state security' can be recognized as 'undesirable'. Such organizations are prohibited from conducting activities on the territory of the country.
Participation in the activities of an 'undesirable organization' is punishable by administrative liability in the form of a fine from 5,000 to 15,000 rubles. In case of repeated violation within a year after the first fine for participation in the activities of an 'undesirable' organization, criminal liability arises, starting with fines from 300 to 500 thousand rubles to imprisonment from one year to four years. Moreover, this also applies to participation in activities outside of Russia.