icon bookmark-bicon bookmarkicon cameraicon checkicon chevron downicon chevron lefticon chevron righticon chevron upicon closeicon v-compressicon downloadicon editicon v-expandicon fbicon fileicon filtericon flag ruicon full chevron downicon full chevron lefticon full chevron righticon full chevron upicon gpicon insicon mailicon moveicon-musicicon mutedicon nomutedicon okicon v-pauseicon v-playicon searchicon shareicon sign inicon sign upicon stepbackicon stepforicon swipe downicon tagicon tagsicon tgicon trashicon twicon vkicon yticon wticon fm
26 Sep, 2022 16:54

Russia expels Japanese consul over spying

The diplomat was caught by Russian counterintelligence while trying to procure restricted information
Russia expels Japanese consul over spying

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) detained the Japanese consul in Vladivostok on Monday. Motoki Tatsunori confessed to trying to purchase restricted information, and has been ordered to leave the country.

“The Japanese diplomat was detained on suspicion of receiving, for a monetary reward, restricted information on Russia’s cooperation with another country in the Asia-Pacific region, and the impact of Western sanctions on the economic situation in the Primorye region,” the FSB said in a statement. It added that the diplomat has been declared “persona non grata” for activities that are “incompatible with the status of a consular official and detrimental to Russia’s security interests.”

The service has released footage of Tatsunori meeting his contact at a restaurant, as well as the diplomat’s interrogation after he was detained. The consul acknowledged he had breached Russian law with his activities.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has also summoned Japan’s minister-counsellor over the incident, notifying the mission that Tatsunori has been declared persona non grata and must leave the country within 48 hours.

“A decisive protest has been expressed to the Japanese side over the actions of the General Consulate official and an appropriate note has been delivered,” the ministry said in a brief statement.

Podcasts
0:00
23:13
0:00
25:0