Russia’s FSB Detains and Expels Japanese Consul for Alleged Spying, Japan Demands Apology

A general view of the headquarters of the Federal Security Service (FSB), Russia's main security agency, in Moscow on March 23, 2021. KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images

Russia’s FSB security agency said on Monday it had detained a Japanese consul in Russia’s Pacific port city of Vladivostok for alleged espionage and ordered him to leave the country, Russian news agencies said.

The consul was released after a few hours of detention by the Russian agency, Japan’s Kyodo news reported on Tuesday, citing government sources.