TOKYO (TR) – The Japanese government is demanding answers after Russia’s intelligence agency detained a Japanese newspaper reporter on suspicion of espionage in the Far East region of Sakhalin, reports NHK (Oct. 15).
On Tuesday, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced it had taken Yuki Imai — a male reporter from the Hokkaido Shimbun‘s Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk bureau — into custody, accusing him of engaging in spy activities.
In a swift response on the following day, Hiroyuki Nakamura, Director-General of the Foreign Ministry’s European Affairs Bureau, summoned Russian Ambassador to Japan Nikolay Nozdrev. Nakamura demanded prompt information regarding the arrest, humanitarian treatment for the detained reporter, and immediate consular access.
Japanese officials also delivered a strong protest over the unilateral release of video footage purportedly showing the moment the reporter was apprehended. The ministry slammed Moscow for broadcasting the dramatic footage without providing any prior explanation to Tokyo.
According to Foreign Ministry sources, as of Wedesnday night, Russia has completely failed to provide an official “consular notification” acknowledging the detention. The current health condition and exact whereabouts of the reporter remain a mystery.
The Japanese government is now rushing to confirm the circumstances leading up to the arrest and is weighing its next steps in the diplomatic fallout.