Russia claims consular meeting for detained Japan reporter held promptly

Russia has claimed that a consular meeting for a Japanese journalist detained by Russian authorities was held appropriately, although it did not take place within four days of detention as sought under the two countries’ consular convention.

At a news conference Wednesday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova failed to mention the time limit while saying that the meeting was held immediately after necessary procedures were completed within a prescribed time frame.

The Japanese government announced Monday that officials from the Japanese Embassy in Moscow met with the reporter for the Hokkaido Shimbun daily newspaper. The consular meeting took place nearly two weeks after the reporter was detained, on Oct. 13, on suspicion of espionage.

According to Zakharova, the meeting was held at the Lefortovo detention center in eastern Moscow with participation by three embassy officials — a minister-counselor, a counselor and the head of the consular department.

While noting that there are no restrictions on the activities of Japanese journalists in Russia, she said it is also important to tell the Japanese side not to abuse this privilege, particularly for anti-Russia activities.

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Oct. 13 that it had detained the Japanese reporter in the Sakhalin region in the Russian Far East.

The FSB alleges that he was gathering information on troops mobilized for Russia’s military operations in Ukraine from the Kuril Islands, which Moscow claims include the four northwestern Pacific islands at the center of a long-standing territorial dispute between Japan and Russia.