Japanese Reporter Detained in Putin's Game of Hostage-Taking: WSJ
New York, Oct. 21 (Jiji Press)--Russia detained a Japanese reporter as part of Russian President Vladimir Putin's "game of intimidation and hostage-taking," The Wall Street Journal said in an editorial in its Wednesday edition. Russia's Federal Security Service, or FSB, last week announced the detention of the reporter for the Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper in Sakhalin in the country's Far East...
New York, October 21 (Jiji Press)--Russia has detained a Japanese reporter from the Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper, according to a Wall Street Journal editorial. The Federal Security Service (FSB) announced the detention last week, alleging the reporter engaged in espionage activities in Sakhalin, Russia's Far East region. The WSJ suggests that this move is part of Russian President Vladimir Putin's strategy of intimidation and hostage-taking.
They also point out that a Wall Street Journal reporter was recently released after being held for 16 months on espionage charges in Russia, which was a result of a prisoner swap. The WSJ notes that Japan's refusal to extradite Tomoko Akane, the Japanese president of the International Criminal Court who issued an arrest warrant for Putin, may have prompted Russia's decision to pressure Japan for a similar exchange.
Additionally, the WSJ speculates that Russia might be trying to leverage the situation to ease its sanctions on Russia, especially as U.S. President Donald Trump is attempting to become Putin's ally.
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