Japan said Oct. 20 that Russia had missed a four-day deadline for consular access to a detained Japanese journalist, as Tokyo sought his release amid a Russian espionage accusation.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said a protocol signed by Japan and the Soviet Union, still in force with Russia, provides for consular access within four days of an arrest or detention. He called Russia’s failure to arrange a visit within that period “extremely regrettable.”
Russia’s Foreign Ministry identified the detainee as Yuki Imai of Hokkaido Shimbun. The Federal Security Service (FSB) said it detained a Japanese national on Sakhalin and accused that person of collecting information about Russian defenses for Japanese intelligence. The FSB did not identify the person.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi denied that Japan had engaged in spying.
Japan’s Foreign Ministry summoned Russian Ambassador Nikolay Nozdrev on Oct. 14, protesting both the detention and Russia’s unilateral announcement of it before giving Tokyo an explanation. The ministry requested information and contact with Imai. Nozdrev said he would convey Tokyo’s position to Moscow.
Interfax reported that a Moscow court ordered Imai held in pretrial custody until Dec. 12.
The detention comes amid a decades-long territorial dispute over islands near Sakhalin.
Kihara said Japan would continue seeking a consular visit as soon as possible, along with Imai’s release and humane and fair treatment.
