Russia Arrests Japanese Journalist for Spying on Kuril Island Troops

The detention follows a Japanese official protest on October 9 against Russia's demand that the Netherlands extradite International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane and eight other officials. Relations between Tokyo and Moscow were further strained by Vladimir Putin's August visit to the disputed island of Iturup. Imai had resided in Russia since 2014, studied at Saint Petersburg State University, and reported on Russia's relations with North Korea.