Japan presses Russia to free detained journalist and allow consular contact

Tokyo’s foreign minister, Toshimitsu Motegi, called on Moscow to immediately free a Japanese journalist detained on suspicion of espionage and to permit the consular meeting required by a bilateral treaty within four days. The journalist, working for the Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper, was arrested on Sakhalin and subsequently transferred to Moscow, where a local court approved a two-month detention. Motegi labeled the denial of consular access "extremely regrettable" and emphasized Japan’s demand for humane and fair treatment.

The Russian Foreign Ministry reported that a senior official discussed the case with Kimitake Nakamura, director general of the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s European Affairs Bureau, who urged early consular contact. Japan indicated it is coordinating with Russia through various diplomatic channels and will continue to press for the journalist’s release.