Japan PM rejects Russian espionage charges against journalist detained on Sakhalin
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Sanae Takaichi (Photo: David Mareuil/Pool via REUTERS)
Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi has denied Russia’s espionage
allegations against Yuki Imai, a journalist for the Japanese newspaper
Hokkaido Shimbun. Imai was arrested in Russia on Oct. 13.
Takaichi made the comments while speaking with the media on
Oct. 15, The
Japan Times reported.
“There is no such fact. ... Each country’s domestic laws are
different, so we do not yet know the details of what they call an allegation,” the
PM said in response to questions about whether Imai had been acting on behalf
of Japanese intelligence.
She emphasized that there was little information available
about Imai’s detention.
The newspaper also reported that Japan’s Chief Cabinet
Secretary Minoru Kihara had previously said authorities were unable to contact
Imai and learned of his arrest only through official statements from Russian
authorities.
On Oct. 13, Russia’s FSB said it had detained a
correspondent for a Japanese newspaper on Sakhalin. The journalist was accused
of espionage on behalf of Japanese intelligence. According to the FSB, the
journalist collected and stored information related to Russia’s defense
capabilities for transfer to Japanese intelligence services. A court in
Moscow’s Lefortovo district ordered him jailed.
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