The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has detained a Hokkaido Shimbun correspondent on espionage charges and transported him to Moscow, prompting the Japanese government to officially demand swift information and humane treatment from Russia. The Russian government's aggressive action against a Japanese journalist has heightened diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
According to foreign media reports on October 14, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi attended a budget committee meeting in the House of Representatives and stated, "We are strongly demanding the Russian government provide swift information and humane treatment, as well as fair treatment regarding the detention of our journalist."
Motegi emphasized that the government is closely monitoring the circumstances surrounding the detention and the health of the imprisoned journalist, stating, "We will take all necessary measures to ensure the protection of our citizens." The Japanese government has urgently requested consular access through its embassy in Russia and the consulate in Sakhalin, but has faced difficulties in confirming the journalist's safety due to a lack of cooperation from Russian authorities.
Earlier, the FSB arrested a 30-year-old Japanese male journalist working in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk on espionage charges at a local hotel and transported him to Moscow. A Moscow court has ordered his detention for two months until December 12. Russian authorities allege that the journalist attempted to gather military secrets related to the scale of mobilization in the Kuril Islands (known as the Northern Territories in Japan) and Sakhalin in connection with the Ukraine war, warning that he could face up to 20 years in prison.
While prioritizing the safety of the journalist, the Japanese government is wary of a prolonged situation. The Chief Cabinet Secretary stated at a regular press conference that the government is closely monitoring the situation, but also indicated the importance of maintaining appropriate relations with Russia as a neighboring country.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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