The Russian Federal Security Service has detained the Japanese consul in Vladivostok, Motoki Tatsunori, accusing him of espionage.

APA's Russian bureau reports that the Japanese consul was caught red-handed while receiving confidential information about "actual aspects of Russia's cooperation with one of the countries of the Asia-Pacific region" and "the impact of the Western sanctions policy on the economic situation in the Primorsky Krai".

A protest was sent to the Japanese side through diplomatic channels.

The consul himself was declared persona non grata.