Russia arrests Japanese journalist on spying charges

Key points

• Russian authorities arrested Japanese journalist Yuki Imai of the Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper on suspicion of espionage in the Sakhalin region.
• Imai was flown to Moscow, where a court ordered him held in pre-trial detention until 12 December.
• Japan says it was not informed of the arrest and has not been able to contact Imai.

Russian authorities have arrested a Japanese journalist on suspicion of espionage. The journalist, identified as Yuki Imai from the Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper, was detained in the far-eastern Sakhalin region a day before he was due to leave Russia. He was flown to Moscow, where a court ordered he be placed in pre-trial detention, according to Russian reports.

Japan says it is still seeking details about the arrest and has not been able to contact Imai. The arrest comes as tensions worsen between the two nations after Russian leader Vladimir Putin visited the disputed Kuril Islands in August.

Russian allegations and evidence

Russian authorities allege that Imai acted on the instructions of Japan's national intelligence service to gather information about people involved in a special military operation on the Kuril Islands, state news agency TASS reported.

Russia's FSB security agency published footage showing three masked men in black uniforms storming a hotel room and handcuffing a man. The video then shows him being accompanied onto a plane before appearing in a cage in a Moscow court. It did not say when he was detained or when the court hearing took place. Imai will be remanded until 12 December, before his trial begins, according to Interfax. Those convicted of espionage in Russia can be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.

Tokyo's attempts to use its correspondents in Russia, who hold foreign journalist status, to gather information aimed at undermining our country's security are regrettable

— Maria Zakharova

Reactions from Russia and Japan

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement on Tuesday that Tokyo's attempts to use its correspondents in Russia to gather information aimed at undermining the country's security are regrettable. She noted that the incident is not isolated but did not name other journalists or media outlets allegedly involved.

Japan has not commented at length. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told a press briefing that Japan did not know about the arrest until the announcement and had had no contact yet with the journalist. Hokkaido Shimbun ran a report without naming the reporter and said it is still confirming details, with ensuring the reporter's safety as its top priority.