Tokyo, Nov. 13 (Jiji Press)–Russia is increasing pressure on Japan while rejecting its demand for the immediate release of a Japanese journalist who was detained for alleged espionage a month ago. The Japanese government has been struggling to come up with an effective response to Russia’s increased pressure, which apparently aims to throw Japan off balance as part of efforts to fend off Western sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine. According to government sources, the detained journalist, Yuki Imai, a 34-year-old Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper correspondent, currently has no health issues. So far, Japanese officials have only been allowed to meet with him once, on Oct. 26, while continuing to send him supplies. “We strongly urge Russia to immediately release him and show humanitarian consideration,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said at a press conference on Thursday. At the same time, the top government spokesman expressed the government’s intention to maintain its economic sanctions against Russia and its support for Ukraine. On Thursday, the newspaper disclosed the journalist’s name, saying that it carefully considered how to report the situation while putting his safety first, and concluded that it was necessary to clearly inform the public of his name. Denying the espionage charges against Imai, the newspaper said, “We have never conducted interviews or gathered information based on the (Japanese) government’s instructions.” Japan is urging Russia at various levels to release Imai as soon as possible. The Foreign Ministry has sent Kimitake Nakamura, director-general of the European Affairs Bureau, to Moscow. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi also met with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in the United States on Oct. 30. It was the first face-to-face meeting between the Japanese and Russian foreign ministers in about five years. Since Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit in August to one of the four Russian-held islands that Japan calls the Northern Territories, Russia has ramped up pressure on Japan. This month, Russia unilaterally placed Japan Tobacco Inc.’s Russian assets under the control of a Russian company. At a press conference on Wednesday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that the latest move came in response to what she described as Japan’s blatant hostile acts. A senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official said that the reporter’s detention and the measure against Japan Tobacco were both part of Russia’s campaign against Japan. The Japanese side has not found a way to resolve the situation. “All Russian government actions have political intentions,” said a Japanese government official. “We have to make some kind of exchange.” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
