Russia Arrests Japanese Journalist on Suspicion of Spying

By Reuters Oct. 13, 2026 Viridianaor / pexels Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said it detained a Japanese journalist who it alleged had been gathering information on Russia's defense capabilities, news agencies reported on Tuesday. The FSB said the journalist, who works for the Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper, had been detained in the Sakhalin region before he planned to leave Russia, and was subsequently transferred to Moscow and arrested, Interfax reported. This is a developing story. Read more about: Japan , Journalists , FSB Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more FSB Arrests Former Radio Liberty Reporter in Far East Russia While the FSB withheld the man’s name, local and independent media earlier identified him as Alexander Andreyev. 1 Min read Russia Charges Deutsche Welle Journalist Over Kursk Reporting Russia’s FSB has so far pressed charges against seven foreign journalists who reported from the embroiled Kursk region. 2 Min read Russia Charges CNN Journalist Over Report From Sudzha Nick Paton Walsh was charged with “illegally crossing the state border of Russia” after he traveled to the Ukrainian-held town. 1 Min read opinion Andrei Soldatov Evan Gershkovich's Arrest Means No Journalist Can Feel Safe in Russia Today All foreign journalists, and by default all foreign nationals, are now potentially fair game for Putin and the Russian security services. 3 Min read