Japanese journalist’s arrest in Russia deepens Moscow-Tokyo row

The Japanese authorities has powerfully condemned Russia’s detention of a Japanese writer accused of spying, demanding a elaborate mentation for Moscow’s action.

Thirty-four-year-old Yuki Imai, a analogous for Hokkaido Shimbun paper based successful Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, has been remanded successful custody until December 12, according to Kommersant newspaper.

Japan’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian Ambassador Nikolay Nozdrev connected Wednesday to protestation Imai’s apprehension by the Federal Security Service successful the Pacific land of Sakhalin Oblast.

Director-General of the European Affairs Bureau, Nakamura Kimitake, requested that accusation connected the substance beryllium provided promptly and urged Moscow to dainty the detained nationalist successful a humane manner.

Tokyo wants an accidental to talk with Imai, whom the authorities impeach of gathering quality connected Russia’s subject capabilities and questioning section residents astir soldiers and volunteers.

The journalist, who was remanded into pretrial custody by the Lefortovo District Court, studied astatine Saint Petersburg State University and has covered the disputed Kuril Islands and Russia–North Korea relations.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Imai was arrested for “conducting quality activities successful our territory” and was charge...