Japan denies spying after Russia arrests journalist

Japan on Thursday denied conducting spying activities in Russia, following Moscow’s arrest of a Japanese journalist on suspicion of espionage.

“There is no such fact,” Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told reporters when asked about the Russian allegations, adding that “the protection of Japanese nationals is extremely important right now, and we intend to focus our efforts on that.”

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

On Tuesday, the Russian foreign ministry identified the Japanese reporter as Yuki Imai from the Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper, with a spokeswoman saying he is accused of “conducting espionage activities on Russian territory.”

In response, Tokyo summoned the Russian ambassador to lodge a protest over the arrest, with Japan’s Foreign Ministry urging “fair and impartial treatment.”

On Thursday, Takaichi said details of the accusations remained unclear.

“Each country’s domestic laws are different, so we do not yet know the details of what they call an allegation,” she said.

“Nevertheless, Japan will firmly convey its own position.”

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Thursday that the Japanese government had not been able to contact the individual, but is working to arrange a meeting with the reporter “as soon as possible.” On Wednesday, Kihara said that the government did not know about the arrest until the official announcement from Moscow.

Meanwhile, The Committee to Protect Journalists, a New York-based international nonprofit organization, on Wednesday called for the immediate release of the Japanese reporter.

The detention is “deeply chilling to see,” Fiona O’Brien, the committee’s director for Europe and Central Asia, said in a statement. “Journalists must not be used as leverage in wider geopolitical disputes.”

Russia is holding at least 30 journalists in connection with their work, according to the committee.

Hokkaido Shimbun said in a statement that it is aware of the Russian announcement but is “still confirming the details.”

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

Moscow and Tokyo have been locked in a territorial dispute for decades over the status of a string of islands in the Pacific Ocean off the northeastern coast of Japan and to the southwest of Russia’s Sakhalin region.

The Kuril Islands — called the Northern Territories in Japan — have been under Russia’s control since the end of World War II, when they were seized by the Soviet Union.