Japanese Consul in Vladivostok detained over espionage
Japanese Consulate-General Motoki Tatsunori pleads guilty to violating Russian law, as per a recorded confession.
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Japanese Consul in Vladivostok Motoki Tatsunori
The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) stated, on Monday, that a consul from the Japanese Consulate-General was apprehended while gathering data on the repercussions of Western sanctions on the economic situation in Russia's Primorsky Krai.
In a statement, the FSB said that "Russia's Federal Security Service in the Primorsky Krai has prevented an espionage action on the part of Motoki Tatsunori, a consul of the Japanese Consulate-General in Vladivostok."
Furthermore, FSB added that the Japanese diplomat was apprehended while receiving restricted information about Russia's cooperation with one of the countries from the Asia-Pacific region and the effect of Western sanctions on the economic situation in the Primorsky Krai in exchange for a monetary reward.
"A protest has been expressed to the Japanese side through diplomatic channels. Motoki Tatsunori has been declared persona non grata in connection with activities incompatible with the status of a diplomat," the statement added.
It is worth noting that Motoki Tatsunori pleaded guilty to violating Russian law, as per a recorded confession.
🇷🇺🇯🇵 FSB: spy action of the Japanese consul in Vladivostok Motoka Tatsunori was stopped.
— marina alikantes (@Marianna9110) September 26, 2022
The consul was caught red-handed while receiving limited information for money about the current aspects of Russia's cooperation with one of the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, pic.twitter.com/xjUUsWU9gI
FSB released a confession video that showcased Tatsunori responding to a question about whether he understood that he had violated Russian law by saying, "Now I understand."
A segment of the video also showed the Consul meeting with an unidentified person in a restaurant.
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