Japanese Govt.: Diplomat In Russia Never Been Engaged In Illegal Activities


Japanese govt.: Diplomat in Russia never been engaged in illegal activities

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu said the Japanese diplomat alleged of espionage has never been engaged in what Russian authorities call illegal activities. He added that the diplomat will leave Russia for Japan on Wednesday at the latest.

The Russian government declared the diplomat with the Japanese Consulate General in Vladivostok in the Russian Far East as persona non grata and ordered him to leave the country. The diplomat had been detained at one time.

Matsuno told reporters on Tuesday that Japan strongly requested that Russia sincerely accept Japan's protest over the incident.

He said the diplomat is currently not in detention and has no health problems. He added that the person is scheduled to leave Russia on Wednesday at the latest, as the government has been working to let the person return to Japan as soon as possible from a safety standpoint.