Japan urges ‘impartial treatment’ of newspaper reporter arrested in Russia

Tokyo yesterday said it had urged Moscow to ensure “fair and impartial treatment” of a Japanese newspaper reporter who was arrested by Russia on suspicion of espionage.

Russia has arrested several citizens of what it calls “unfriendly” countries in the past few years, accusing them of working for Western intelligence services.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday identified the reporter as Yuki Imai from the Hokkaido Shimbun, with a spokeswoman saying he was accused of “conducting espionage activities on Russian territory.”

A man walks past a screen displaying a news broadcast in Tokyo yesterday reporting on the arrest of Japanese reporter Yuki Imai in Russia.

Photo: AFP

Moscow’s FSB security service said that a Japanese national was arrested on the island of Sakhalin, but did not name the individual.

It said the person had worked for Japanese intelligence to collect information about Russia’s defenses.

Tokyo said it was seeking details about the arrest, with Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara saying Japan has not been able to contact the individual and did not know about the arrest until the official announcement.

“The Japanese embassy ... in Moscow and the Consulate General in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk lodged a request with the Russian authorities for the prompt provision of information, as well as for humanitarian consideration and fair and impartial treatment,” Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi said.

Local media reported that the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs would summon Russian Ambassador to Japan Nikolay Nozdrev to lodge a protest.

TV Asahi reported that the ministry would seek the reporter’s early release, while Kyodo News said that Tokyo would urge Moscow to provide information about the case and ensure the journalist is treated fairly.

The Hokkaido Shimbun said in a statement that it was aware of the announcement by Russian authorities, but was “still confirming the details.”

“Ensuring the safety of the journalist is our top priority, and we are responding accordingly,” it said.