Russia on Tuesday resumed a familiar pattern by arresting a Japanese journalist national on espionage charges, continuing its long known practice of targeting citizens of unfriendly countries over alleged security violations.
“Attempts by Tokyo to use its correspondents who are in Russia and have the status of foreign journalists to collect information aimed at undermining the security of our state are regrettable,” Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson M.V. Zakharova said after the arrest. “We cannot fail to note that today’s event is not an isolated case.”
Russia detains Japanese journalist on Sakhalin on espionage charges amid ongoing tensions with Tokyo. pic.twitter.com/2zGytfISYS
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Yuki Imai, 34, a correspondent of Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Japan, has now been charged under Article 276 of the Russian Federation – espionage, which carries 10 to 20 years in prison.
Russian authorities allege he collected information related to defense capability, specifically about residents of the Kuril Islands mobilized or volunteering to fight in Ukraine, to pass to Japanese intelligence on its order.
Imai’s Tuesday arrest is the latest case of a Japanese national journalist facing espionage allegations at the hands of Russian law.
In 2019, Russian authorities detained a Japanese Kyodo News journalist in Vladivostok on suspicion of trying to obtain classified information about military capabilities in the Far East, questioned him for about five hours, and ordered him to leave the country within 72 hours. The outlet denied the allegation, saying he was engaged in routine reporting.
Imai is a recognized foreign correspondent authorized to report in the country by Russia’s Foreign Ministry.
Tokyo has responded that its embassy in Moscow and consulate-general in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk made representations Tuesday seeking information and humanitarian consideration, and fair, impartial treatment of citizens is important.
But it has not addressed the allegations and, furthermore, has not been able to contact Imai. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told a parliamentary committee Wednesday that the government is verifying facts and that protecting Imai is the priority.
The detention comes amid a long-running dispute over the southern Kuril Islands, administered by Russia and claimed by Japan as the Northern Territories; those tensions prevented a post-World War II peace treaty.
Concerns grew deeper after President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup, Etorofu in Japan, on Aug. 13, in what is described as his first trip to the disputed islands, prompting a formal protest from Tokyo.
Russia later carried out a missile tests from the islands, which its authorities announced.
On Oct. 2, Japan announced asset freezes on 33 entities and nine individuals and, for the first time, sanctions on 35 vessels linked to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet.
Zakharova called those measures unfriendly and warned of retaliation.
Moscow’s Foreign Ministry said the case would further cloud relations. Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Japan of using accredited correspondents to collect information undermining Russian security and that the episode was not isolated, citing what she called Japan’s anti-Russian course since the start of the war in Ukraine and Tokyo’s disregard for Moscow’s concerns about remilitarization.
“Once again, we call on official Tokyo to come to its senses and change its approach, abandoning hostile steps against Russia,” she added.
