Japan has summoned Russia’s ambassador and demanded information and access after a Japanese journalist was detained on Sakhalin. Moscow accuses the newspaper correspondent of gathering defence information for Japanese intelligence. Tokyo is seeking humane treatment and contact with the detainee, while the espionage allegation has not been independently established.
Japan summoned Russian Ambassador Nikolay Nozdrev after a Japanese journalist was detained on Sakhalin island in Russia. Tokyo requested prompt information and humane, fair and impartial treatment for the detained citizen.[1], [2]
Kimitake Nakamura, head of the Foreign Ministry’s European Affairs Bureau, protested to Ambassador Nikolay Nozdrev that Moscow had announced the detention publicly without first explaining it to Japan.[1]
Russia’s Federal Security Service, the domestic security and counterintelligence agency, accuses the Hokkaido Shimbun correspondent of gathering defence information for Japanese intelligence. The accusation has not been independently verified. The Japanese newspaper says its employee had been reporting in Russia on a journalist visa and that it is gathering details about the incident.[1]
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara says officials have been unable to contact the journalist, whose condition is unknown, and requests for access have gone unanswered. Nakamura asked that the detainee be given a prompt opportunity to contact the Japanese government. According to the Japanese ministry, Nozdrev said he would convey Tokyo’s requests to Moscow.[1]
