Japan seeks Russian apology as envoy detained

 

Bloomberg

Japan demanded an apology from Russia for what it saw as the unjust detention of one of its diplomats in Vladivostok, who was blindfolded and physically restrained after the Kremlin falsely accused him of spying.
Top government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno told a regular news briefing in Tokyo on Tuesday that the diplomat committed no illegal activity and Russia had violated international conventions through the detention.
“The treatment and accusations are absolutely unacceptable,” Matsuno said, adding the diplomat, who was detained on Monday, is facing no major health issues.
Russia expelled a Japanese consul in Vladivostok, accusing the diplomat of paying for sensitive information. Tatsunori Motoki was given 48 hours to leave the country, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said. . Russia’s Federal Security Service said the envoy in the Far Eastern city had been caught collecting “restricted information” about Moscow’s ties with an unspecified country in the region.

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