It has been a week since a Japanese journalist was detained in Russia on espionage charges, and the Japanese government has expressed regret over not being able to meet with the journalist.
On October 20, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno stated, "We are requesting the Russian side to allow a consular visit, including a visit to the detention facility designated by them, to confirm the journalist's health and awareness of the situation."
Matsuno emphasized that under the existing consular treaty protocol between Japan and the former Soviet Union, the right to a consular visit should be exercised within four days of arrest or detention. He noted, "It is extremely regrettable that a consular visit has not been realized within the stipulated timeframe. Considering this situation, we will continue to strongly demand the prompt realization of a consular visit, the immediate release of the Japanese national, and humane treatment from the Russian side."
A consular visit allows a diplomat from a foreign country to meet with its detained citizens to ensure their welfare and rights are being upheld.
Matsuno added that the Russian authorities have not responded to the request for a consular visit, and the reasons for this lack of response remain unclear.
On October 13, Russian authorities announced that the Federal Security Service (FSB) had detained a Japanese journalist in the Far East region of Sakhalin on suspicion of espionage. In response, the Japanese government summoned the Russian ambassador to Japan to lodge a protest, but Russia has yet to comply with Japan's requests.
In 2023, Russia also charged a journalist from The Wall Street Journal with espionage, claiming he attempted to gather defense secrets. The court sentenced him to 16 years in prison, marking the first instance of an American journalist being detained on espionage charges in Russia since the end of the Cold War. He was released in August 2024 as part of a large-scale prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Russia.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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