Japanese journalist arrest in Russia's Far East draws rebuke from Tokyo in latest diplomatic spat with Moscow

Japan's Foreign Ministry summoned Russia's ambassador on Wednesday following the arrest of a Japanese journalist by Russia's FSB security agency on espionage charges. The arrest follows a longstanding territorial dispute between Russia and Japan over the four southernmost Kuril Islands, which Russia controls but Japan claims. The journalist, working for the northern Japanese newspaper Hokkaido Shimbun, was arrested in Russia's Sakhalin region.

Russia claimed the journalist was gathering information about Russian defense capabilities on behalf of Japanese intelligence. Japan's Foreign Ministry lodged a strong protest against Russia's detention of its citizen and requested more information about the arrest. Tokyo called for Russia to treat the detained journalist fairly and humanely while seeking more details about the incident.

The Japanese government has not received any explanation regarding the detained individual. Japanese officials have been unable to contact the man, and Moscow has not responded to Tokyo's requests for access. The journalist, identified as Yuki Imai, was reportedly reporting in Russia on a journalist's visa and was set to leave on Monday.

Russian authorities have not confirmed the journalist's identity, stating they are still gathering details about the arrest. The dispute over the Kuril Islands has prevented Japan and Russia from signing a peace treaty to formally end their hostilities since World War II. The tensions have escalated in recent years due to Japan's increased military presence on the islands, including the deployment of missile systems and live fire drills.