Japan Demands Apology From Russia Over ‘Coercively’ Detaining Consul

Russian authorities allegedly 'blindfolded and physically restrained' the Japanese consulate official

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno speaks at a press conference at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Sept. 5, 2022. Kyodo News via AP

Japan’s government on Tuesday demanded an apology from Russian authorities for “coercively” detaining a Japanese consulate official, who was accused of espionage and ordered to leave Russia.

Tatsunori Motoki, a Japanese consul in Valdivostok, was detained on Sept. 22 and declared “persona non grata”—a term used for an unwelcome person—for allegedly engaging in spying, which Japan’s government has denied.