JAKARTA - Japan ordered a Russian diplomat based in Sapporo to leave the country within six days, Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said on Tuesday, in retaliation for the expulsion of a Japanese consular by Moscow last month.
Citing Kyodo News Oct. 4, Foreign Minister Hayashi told reporters her ministry stated diplomats at the Russian Consulate General Sapporo non-Grata, after Russian authorities detained Japanese Consul in Vladivostok for about three hours, accusing her of espionage before expelling her.
Japan said Consul Tatsunori Motoki, who returned home last week after being declared non-graa persona by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, did not commit any illegal acts.
Foreign Minister Hayashi criticized Russia for treating consul "forcely" during her detention, including turning a blind eye and being physically detained.
He said Tuesday Russia's detention and interrogation of Japan's consular was a "clear and serious violation" of international law and "very regrettable."
Meanwhile, Deputy Foreign Minister Takeo Mori today summoned Russian Ambassador Mikhail Galuzin, informing him of Japan's decision.
"It is clear that Japan's final move could only lead to further worsening of bilateral relations, which has declined recently as a result of Tokyo's destructive policy," Galuzin said in a statement.
As previously reported, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) accused Motoki of obtaining classified information in exchange for payment. He was detained before being released from the country within 48 hours.
Tokyo has filed a "hard protest" about the detention and hinted that it would retaliate, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said last week.
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