Japan presses Russia for release of detained Hokkaido Shimbun reporter
In short
Japan's ambassador to Russia, Muto (武藤顕), visited the Russian Foreign Ministry on 19 October to ask for early consular access to a Hokkaido Shimbun reporter detained on spy suspicion. On 20 October Nakamura Kimitake (中村仁威), head of Japan's Foreign Ministry European Affairs Bureau, met a Russian counterpart in Moscow and demanded the reporter's immediate release. No consular meeting had taken place as of 20 October.
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Japan's ambassador to Russia, Muto (武藤顕), visited the Russian Foreign Ministry on 19 October and asked for an early consular meeting with a Hokkaido Shimbun reporter detained on spy suspicion, the Japanese embassy in Russia said on 20 October. TBS NEWS DIG reported that the embassy did not say whom he met on the Russian side or give details of the discussion. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
On 20 October Nakamura Kimitake (中村仁威), head of the Foreign Ministry European Affairs Bureau, met Lyudmila Borovyova (ボロビヨワ), head of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Third Asia Department, in Moscow. Japan's Foreign Ministry announced the meeting on 21 October. According to Yomiuri and Mainichi, Nakamura demanded the reporter's immediate release and asked for an early consular meeting to check the reporter's health and the facts of the case. Yomiuri said the two agreed to keep communicating, including on other issues between the countries. [ 11 , 13 , 16 ]
The Russian Foreign Ministry said the meeting was held at Japan's request. It said Borovyova described the worsening of relations as a direct result of Japan's unfriendly stance, and that normalising relations would require Japan to abandon anti-Russian activity and take Russian security concerns into account. Yomiuri and Mainichi said the Russian announcement did not mention the detention. Mainichi, citing a Japanese government source, said Borovyova gave no positive answer. Mainichi also said Nakamura repeated a protest over President Putin's visit to Etorofu island in August. [ 6 , 7 , 13 , 16 ]
The reporter was detained on 13 October by the FSB in Russia's Sakhalin region and later moved to Moscow, where Sankei, citing Kyodo, said the reporter is held at Lefortovo detention centre. Nippon TV reported that a court has allowed detention until 12 December. [ 1 , 5 , 13 ]
Embassy staff went to the detention centre on 16 October but were refused a meeting. According to the embassy, the Russian side said internal procedures were not in place. Yomiuri and Mainichi said the Japan-Soviet consular treaty provides for a consular meeting within four days of detention or arrest. As of 20 October, a week after the detention, no meeting had taken place. TBS NEWS DIG later reported that embassy staff visited the centre on 21 October for procedures, without saying whether a meeting resulted. [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 13 , 16 , 17 ]
Why it matters
The reporter's detention has not been followed by any consular access, which the outlets say a Japan-Soviet treaty provides for within four days. The Moscow talks showed no sign of agreement on the detention, according to a Japanese government source cited by Mainichi.
Key facts
- Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) detained a Japanese reporter of Hokkaido Shimbun on spy suspicion on 13 October in Russia's Sakhalin region. [ 1 , 5 , 13 ]
- A court has allowed detention until 12 December. [ 1 ]
- The reporter was moved to Moscow and is held at Lefortovo detention centre. [ 5 ]
- Ambassador Muto visited the Russian Foreign Ministry on 19 October and asked for an early consular meeting. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 13 ]
- Nakamura Kimitake, head of the Japanese Foreign Ministry European Affairs Bureau, met Lyudmila Borovyova (ボロビヨワ) of the Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow on 20 October and demanded the reporter's immediate release and an early consular meeting. [ 11 , 13 , 16 ]
- As of 20 October, one week after the detention, no consular meeting had taken place. [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 13 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Ambassador Muto visited the Russian Foreign Ministry on 19 October and asked for an early consular meeting with the detained reporter, the Japanese embassy said on 20 October. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 13 ]
- The reporter was detained on 13 October, and no consular meeting had taken place as of 20 October; embassy staff who went to the detention centre on 16 October did not get to see the reporter. [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 13 ]
- The Russian Foreign Ministry said the 20 October meeting between Borovyova and Nakamura was held at Japan's request, and that Borovyova described worsening relations as the result of Japan's unfriendly stance. [ 7 , 13 , 16 ]
- Japan's Foreign Ministry announced on 21 October that Nakamura had asked for the reporter's immediate release and an early consular meeting. [ 10 , 13 , 16 ]
Still unclear
- Whom the ambassador met at the Russian Foreign Ministry and what was discussed. The embassy did not say, according to TBS NEWS DIG.
- Whether the Russian side discussed the detention at the 20 October meeting. Yomiuri and Mainichi say the Russian announcement did not mention it, while Jiji Press said the talks possibly covered the detention.
- Why the detention centre refused a meeting and why consular access has not been arranged. The Russian side said "internal procedures are not in place", the embassy said; Kyodo, via Sankei, said the centre is under FSB control and coordination with the Foreign Ministry may not be smooth, which is a possibility, not a stated fact.
- Whether embassy staff who went to the detention centre on 21 October were able to meet the reporter. TBS NEWS DIG reported the visit for procedures; the available text does not say whether a meeting took place.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Nippon TV News reported on 20 October that Ambassador Muto had visited the Russian Foreign Ministry on 19 October. [ 1 ]
- Nikkei reported on 20 October that the embassy had disclosed the ambassador's request for early consular access. [ 4 ]
- Yomiuri reported on 21 October that Japan's Foreign Ministry had announced Nakamura's meeting with Borovyova and his demand for immediate release. [ 13 ]
- On 21 October, embassy staff visited Lefortovo detention centre in Moscow, according to TBS NEWS DIG, which gave the time as just after 9 p.m. Japan time. [ 17 ]