Japan says Russia notified it of reporter's detention, but consular access still fails
In short
Japan said Russia provided consular notification on October 15 about the detention of a Hokkaido Shimbun reporter on suspicion of espionage. Embassy officials visited a Moscow detention facility on October 16 but could not meet him, Yomiuri Shimbun reported.
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Japanese embassy officials visited Moscow's Lefortovo detention facility on October 16 seeking access to a Hokkaido Shimbun reporter detained on suspicion of espionage, but were unable to meet him, Yomiuri Shimbun reported. The visit followed Russia's consular notification to Japan on October 15 local time. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara (木原稔) disclosed that notification at a news conference on October 16, while saying Japanese officials had still been unable to contact the reporter. [ 2 , 3 , 10 , 15 ]
Yomiuri Shimbun, citing an embassy source, said senior embassy officials spent about an hour at the facility, where the reporter was believed to be held. The newspaper said arrangements had been coordinated with the Russian side in advance, but it was not clear why the meeting did not take place. An embassy source said officials would continue pressing for consular access as soon as possible. Nippon TV's late report also said a detention-facility visit had failed to secure a meeting. [ 14 , 15 ]
Kihara said the government wanted an urgent consular meeting to check the journalist's health and hear his understanding of the circumstances. He said Japan would continue strongly urging Russia to provide access and would work to protect the Japanese citizen. Mainichi Shimbun reported earlier that multiple Japanese government officials said Russia had not rejected Japan's request for a consular meeting. Nippon TV quoted a Foreign Ministry official as saying Russia had not explained why access had not been possible. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 10 ]
Yomiuri Shimbun reported that the male journalist was detained in Sakhalin on October 13 and transferred to Moscow. Asahi Shimbun identified the detaining agency as Russia's Federal Security Service, or FSB. Jiji Press said Japan had protested the initial lack of consular notification and demanded fair treatment for the reporter. [ 2 , 6 , 15 ]
Why it matters
Japanese officials were seeking a meeting to check the reporter's health and hear his account of events. The reason embassy officials could not meet him despite prior coordination remained unexplained.
Key facts
- Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara (木原稔) said on October 16 that Russia had notified Japan the previous day local time. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 10 ]
- Japanese embassy officials visited Moscow's Lefortovo detention facility on October 16 but did not obtain a meeting, Yomiuri Shimbun reported. [ 15 ]
- Yomiuri Shimbun reported that the journalist was detained in Sakhalin on October 13 and transferred to Moscow. [ 15 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Why the embassy visit did not lead to a meeting. Yomiuri Shimbun said the visit had been coordinated with Russia, but the reason access failed was unknown.