Russia arrests Japanese Hokkaido Shimbun journalist on suspicion of spying
According to Russian security services, he gathered data on "Russia's military readiness" and on mobilised troops and volunteers for the war in Ukraine.
Russia's Sakhalin region has detained a Japanese journalist from the Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper on suspicion of espionage. The Federal Security Service (FSB) announced the arrest of Yuki Imai, 34, on Tuesday. According to the agency, he was accused of collecting and storing information about Russia's defense capabilities with the intent to share it against the country's security, under the direction of a national intelligence service.
Video footage showed masked security officers entering his hotel room, handcuffing him, searching the premises, and escorting him out to a plane. It is reported that Imai has been taken to Moscow and will be held in pre-trial detention for at least two months. Russia's foreign ministry confirmed that a criminal case has been opened against him under article 276 of the Russian Criminal Code, which pertains to espionage.
The trial is scheduled to begin on December 12, and Imai faces a possible prison term of 10 to 20 years. This marks the first arrest of a foreign media worker in Russia since 2024, when an American journalist was released as part of a prisoner swap. The Japanese government has demanded clarification from Russia regarding Imai's detention, emphasizing the need for humane, fair, and impartial treatment.
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