Tokyo summons Russian ambassador and demands consular access after Japanese journalist ordered held until December on espionage charges

Masked agents in black seize Hokkaido Shimbun reporter Yuki Imai in his Sakhalin hotel room before flying him to Moscow's Lefortovo jail on FSB espionage charges carrying up to 20 years in prison.

Masked agents escort Yuki Imai from a Sakhalin hotel room; Russia's FSB alleges he gathered intelligence on Kuril Islands residents' involvement in the Ukraine war for a Japanese spy agency.

Japan's foreign ministry summoned Russian ambassador Nikolay Nozdrev in Tokyo on Wednesday to protest the arrest of Hokkaido Shimbun reporter Yuki Imai, 34, on espionage charges, demanding consular access, a full account of the case and humane treatment for the journalist. Russian authorities had detained Imai on Sakhalin Island just before he was due to depart the country, then moved him to Moscow, where a court ordered him held until 12 December.

The FSB published video of masked officers storming Imai's hotel room, pinning him down and placing him in handcuffs before his transfer to Moscow.

Russia alleges Imai gathered intelligence on Russian defence capabilities and mobilisation in disputed Kuril Islands territory on behalf of Japanese intelligence.

Espionage charges in Russia carry up to 20 years in prison; the arrest follows Putin's provocative August visit to the disputed Kuril Islands.

The TelegraphRussia arrests Japanese journalist for ‘spying’ on disputed islands The TimesRussia’s ‘spying’ arrest of journalist heightens tensions with Japan Yahoo News UKRussia arrests Japanese journalist and accuses him of spying APTokyo protests Russia’s arrest of Japanese journalist on suspicion of spying

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