Japanese official calls for immediate release of detained journalist; Russia offers no response
According to a report by Yomiuri Shimbun on October 21: On October 20 local time, Ren'ichi Nakamura, Director of the European Affairs Department at Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visited the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow and met with Lyudmila Vorobyova, Head of the Third Asia Department responsible for relations with Japan. Nakamura urged Russia to immediately release a Japanese journalist from Hokkaido Shimbun, who was detained by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) on suspicion of espionage.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nakamura also requested access to meet the detained journalist to confirm his health status and obtain information regarding the case.
Nakamura and Vorobyova agreed to continue dialogue, including on other issues currently under discussion between Russia and Japan. On October 19, Japanese Ambassador to Russia Kenji Muto also visited the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to request a meeting with the detained journalist.
The Japan-Soviet Consular Treaty, still in effect, stipulates that consular access to a national must be granted no later than four days after detention or arrest. The journalist was detained on October 13 in Sakhalin, a region in Russia’s Far East, yet no meeting has been arranged to date.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the meeting between Nakamura and Vorobyova was initiated at Japan’s request. During the talks, Vorobyova stated that deteriorating Russia-Japan relations stemmed from Japan’s “unfriendly stance” toward Russia.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry statement made no mention of the journalist’s arrest, offering no comment or response.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1879627072552960/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author.