The key facts

  • Iwaya 'sternly demanded' the release of the Japanese national detained in the Sakhalin region on suspicion of espionage
  • The FSB earlier accused the correspondent of the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk bureau of Hokkaido Shimbun of collecting data on Russia's defense capability
  • The sides agreed to maintain contact 'even amid the difficult situation' in bilateral relations

A démarche on the sidelines of the G20

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday on the sidelines of the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta (USA), Japan's foreign ministry reported. According to the ministry, Iwaya conveyed a démarche on 'various pressing issues' between the two countries and 'sternly demanded' the immediate release of a Japanese citizen detained in the Sakhalin region on suspicion of espionage.

Who was detained and what the charge is

The case concerns a correspondent of the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk bureau of the Japanese newspaper Hokkaido Shimbun. Earlier this month, Russia's Federal Security Service accused him of collecting and storing information about Russia's defense capability for the benefit of Japanese intelligence, stating that this information could be used against the country's security, and opened a criminal case. The Lefortovo District Court of Moscow ordered the journalist to be held in custody during the investigation.

Ukraine and the state of relations

Iwaya also once again 'sternly urged' Russia to take positive steps toward achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. According to Japan's foreign ministry, the ministers agreed to maintain contacts 'even amid the difficult situation in Japan-Russia relations.' Relations between the two countries deteriorated sharply after Russia launched its war against Ukraine in February 2022, when Tokyo imposed sanctions on Moscow.