Russia detains Japanese journalist on suspicion of espionage

London, October 14, 2026—Russia must immediately release a Japanese journalist detained on Tuesday in the far-eastern island of Sakhalin on suspicion of espionage, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. 

The journalist, identified by media as Yuki Imai, is believed to be a correspondent for the Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper, a regional outlet for Japan’s northern island. Russia’s FSB security agency said he was arrested on 13 October and flown to Moscow, according to Russian news agency TASS. It said a criminal case had been initiated under Article 276 of Russia’s criminal code (espionage), a charge which can carry up to 20 years in prison. 

Video footage carried by several media showed FSB operatives storming a hotel room and handcuffing a man, escorting him onto a plane, and putting him into a cage in what appears to be a courtroom. It was not clear from the video when the Moscow court hearing took place. The BBC said, citing Interfax, that Imai would be remanded in custody until 12 December, before his trial begins.

“It is deeply chilling to see reports that a foreign journalist has been arrested in Russia and could be charged with espionage.” said Fiona O’Brien, CPJ’s director for Europe and Central Asia. “Images of a man being put into a cage, and the threat of a long period of pre-trial detention, are chillingly reminiscent of the ordeal U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich went through from 2023, when he was also held in Russia on sham charges of espionage. Journalists must not be used as leverage in wider geopolitical disputes.”

The management of Hokkaido Shimbun said it was verifying information that Russian authorities had detained a male journalist from their staff, adding that ensuring his safety was its top priority. A senior official from the Japanese Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador to Japan and requested that information be provided promptly and the detained Japanese national treated in “a humane, fair and impartial manner.” 

Interfax quoted an FSB operative saying Imai was collecting “information regarding the number of mobilized individuals and volunteers from the Kuril Islands participating in the special military operation.”

Russia is currently holding at least 30 journalists in connection with their work.