News Japanese consul in Russia detained and expelled

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The Japanese consul in Vladivostok was detained by Russia's Federal Security Service and accused of engaging in espionage after he obtained classified information in exchange for a payment. The Japanese government flatly denied the accusation.

The FSB said Motoki received classified information on cooperation between Russia and Asia-Pacific countries as well as on the impact of Western sanctions on Russia's Far East region. He is accused of paying for the information. Local media released footage of the consul receiving documents at what appears to be an eatery and of him admitting to the accusations during FSB questioning.

On Wednesday, Japanese FM Hayashi said the consul was blindfolded while Russian officers held his hands and fixed his head as he was taken in for questioning. Hayashi said the consul was then "subjected to a coercive interrogation", a procedure that violates the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said at a Sept. 27 news conference that the consul is in good health and added the diplomat will leave Russia by Sept. 28. Takeo Mori, a vice minister at the Foreign Ministry, had meanwhile summoned Russian Ambassador Mikhail Galuzin on Sept. 27 and lodged a strong complaint over the matter. According to the Russian News Agency TASS, the country's Federal Security Service (FSB) announced the detention of the Japanese consul on Sept. 26. The FSB said the consul had "received, in exchange for financial reward, restricted information about Russia's cooperation with another country in the Asia-Pacific region and the impacts of sanctions by Europe and United States on the economy in (Russia's) Far East region." Analysts believe Russia has lashed out at the Japanese consul because it has adopted a combative stance toward countries opposing its military conduct toward Ukraine.

Japan consul to be expelled from Russia for alleged espionage - The Mainichi

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- A Japanese diplomat was detained by Russia's Federal Security Service and accused of engaging in espionage after he obtained classifi

mainichi.jp

Japan rebukes Russia after consul detained and interrogated | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

 

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That didn't take long: Japan declared Russia's consul at the Russian Consulate General in Sapporo persona non grata.

Hayashi has criticized Russia for treating the consul "coercively" during his detention, including being blindfolded and physically restrained. He said Tuesday that the Russian detention and interrogation of the Japanese consul was a "clear and serious violation" of international law and "extremely regrettable." Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Mori summoned Russian Ambassador to Japan Mikhail Galuzin to the ministry to inform Moscow of Tokyo's countermeasure, Hayashi said. But he stopped short of giving details about the Russian consul, saying merely that Japan responded "accordingly" to Moscow's expulsion of the consul.

Japan orders Russian consul to leave in tit-for-tat response

Foreign Minister says move is in retaliation after Russia's Federal Security Service detained a Japanese consul in Vladivostok for alleged espionage and ordered him out of the country.

www.japantimes.co.jp