Japan presses Russia to free detained Hokkaido Shimbun reporter
In short
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said on 20 October that Japan strongly demands Russia immediately release a Hokkaido Shimbun reporter it detained. He called it "extremely regrettable" that no consular visit has taken place, and said Russia has not clearly explained why.
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Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said at a press conference on 20 October that Japan strongly demands Russia immediately release a male reporter of the Hokkaido Shimbun's Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk bureau, who was detained in Russia. He said it is "extremely regrettable" that a consular visit, meant to confirm the reporter's detention conditions and health, has not taken place. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
TBS quoted Kihara as saying the visit did not happen within the prescribed period. He said Japan will keep strongly asking Russia for a consular visit as soon as possible, the immediate release of the Japanese national, humane consideration and fair and impartial treatment, and will work with full effort to protect Japanese nationals. Kihara said Russia has not clearly given a reason for not agreeing to a visit, but that Japan must continue to approach Russia. [ 2 , 5 ]
The 1967 consular treaty between Japan and the then Soviet Union provides for a consular visit by diplomats within four days of a detention. TBS quoted the treaty protocol as saying the right to a consular visit can be exercised within four days at the latest from arrest or detention. Sankei and TBS said a week has passed without a visit. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Asahi Shimbun reported that Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) detained the reporter on suspicion of espionage, and that a week has passed since Russian authorities announced this. It said that on 16 October senior officials of the Japanese embassy in Russia went to a Moscow detention centre where the reporter is believed to be held, but no meeting took place. [ 5 ]
Kyodo News, carried by Tokyo Shimbun, said the reporter was detained on 13 October. Sankei Shimbun's text instead says a week has passed since a detention on the 20th, so the outlets differ on the date. [ 1 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The documents present the missing consular visit as a failure to meet the time limit set in a Japan–Soviet consular treaty. The Japanese government says it will keep pressing Russia, so the case remains a dispute between the two governments.
Key facts
- Kihara said at a press conference on 20 October that Japan strongly demands the immediate release of the Hokkaido Shimbun reporter detained in Russia. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The reporter belongs to the Hokkaido Shimbun's Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk bureau. [ 1 ]
- Asahi Shimbun reported that Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) detained the reporter on suspicion of espionage. [ 5 ]
- Kyodo News reported that the reporter was detained on 13 October. [ 4 ]
- Kihara called it "extremely regrettable" that no consular visit has been held; Russia has not clearly given a reason for refusing. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- The 1967 consular treaty between Japan and the then Soviet Union provides for a consular visit within four days of detention. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Asahi Shimbun reported that on 16 October senior officials of the Japanese embassy in Russia went to a Moscow detention centre where the reporter is believed to be held, but no meeting took place. [ 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Kihara said the consular visit had not taken place and called this "extremely regrettable". [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Kihara said Japan strongly demands the reporter's immediate release. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Kihara said Russia has not clearly explained why it will not allow a consular visit. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- The 1967 treaty with the then Soviet Union provides for a consular visit within four days of detention. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Kihara said the government will keep pressing Russia. [ 2 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- Why Russia has not allowed a consular visit. Kihara said Russia has not clearly given a reason.
- The date of detention. Kyodo News (via Tokyo Shimbun) gives 13 October. Sankei Shimbun says one week has passed since a detention on the 20th, which is the date of the press conference, so the dates differ.
- The espionage suspicion and the reporter's location in Moscow. Only Asahi Shimbun reports the espionage suspicion and the belief that the reporter is held in a Moscow detention centre.