MOSCOW — Russian authorities have arrested Japanese journalist Yuki Imai of the Hokkaido Shimbun on suspicion of espionage, accusing him of gathering defence-related information for Tokyo, BBC News and Al Jazeera reported Wednesday.
Imai was detained in the far-eastern Sakhalin region a day before he was due to leave Russia, flown to Moscow and ordered into pre-trial detention until Dec. 12, Russian agencies said. The FSB released video of masked officers handcuffing a man in a hotel room and later showing him in a Moscow courtroom cage. Espionage convictions in Russia can bring up to 20 years in prison.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Tokyo’s alleged use of accredited correspondents to undermine Russian security was “regrettable” and “not an isolated” case. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Tokyo learned of the arrest only when it was announced and had not yet contacted Imai. Hokkaido Shimbun said ensuring the reporter’s safety was its top priority, the BBC reported.
The arrest comes amid worsening ties after Vladimir Putin visited the disputed Kuril Islands in August — islands Japan calls the Northern Territories. Tokyo says the visit wounded Japanese feelings; Moscow dismissed the criticism. Japan has sanctioned Russia over the Ukraine war, and last week Moscow sought the extradition of ICC President Tomoko Akane, who is Japanese.
Russia previously detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich on espionage charges in 2023 before a 2024 prisoner swap, and in 2019 briefly held a Kyodo News journalist in Vladivostok before expelling him.
Sources: BBC News, Al Jazeera
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