Japanese Media: Japanese Government Powerless Amid Journalist's Detention by Russia
A report by Kyodo News on October 24 states that Russia’s detention of a journalist from *Hokkaido Shimbun* shows signs of prolonged duration, while the Japanese government remains unable to take effective action.
Japan has called for the immediate release of the journalist, but Russia has maintained a firm stance, even failing to fulfill the consular visit provision stipulated in bilateral agreements. Japan is now planning to persistently engage Russian authorities through various channels.
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi stated: “We continue to strongly urge Russia to permit consular access and to release the individual immediately.”
1. On October 13, Russia’s Federal Security Service announced the detention of a male Japanese journalist working for *Hokkaido Shimbun*’s branch office in South Sakhalinsk, citing allegations of espionage.
According to the consular treaty between the former Soviet Union and Japan, as well as related documents, the detaining party should notify the other side’s consulate within one to three days of detention and allow consular access within four days. However, Japan submitted a request for consular access on the 15th, which went unanswered by Russian authorities.
The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs dispatched Renji Nakamura, Director General of the European Affairs Bureau, to Russia. Nakamura went beyond previous Japanese positions calling for humanitarian treatment and fair and impartial handling; during a meeting with Yelena Vorobyova, Director of the Third Department for Asia at the Russian Foreign Ministry, on October 20, he explicitly demanded the immediate release of the journalist.
According to a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the inability to confirm the health status of the detained Japanese journalist is considered “unusual.”
On October 22, following requests from the journalist’s family, the Japanese embassy in Moscow sent personal items to a detention facility in Moscow, requesting their delivery to the detainee. A senior ministry official emphasized: “We must find ways to prompt action from Russia.”
However, there are no indications that Russia’s hardline position has softened. A ministry official noted: “Since the dispatch of Director Nakamura to negotiate in Russia, there has been no progress.”
Recently, sources linked to the Russian government have expressed concern, describing the current situation as “extremely serious.”
The Japanese government’s apparent helplessness stems from the stagnation and deepening tensions in Russia-Japan relations. This stands in stark contrast to Russia’s recent release of an American teacher.
A Japanese government official remarked: “There is no viable solution at present. Even if consular access is granted, the likelihood of release remains extremely low.”
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1879941451562059/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.