# Japan Demands Release of Detained Journalist at G20 Meeting

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/japan-demands-release-of-detained-journalist-at-g20-meeting/
- Published: 2026-10-31T09:19:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-04T10:56:50+00:00
- Original publisher: The Moscow Times
- Original article: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/31/japan-demands-release-of-detained-journalist-at-g20-meeting-a94140
- Topics: Asia, Europe, Government, Politics, World

## Key points

- Japan demanded the release of journalist Yuki Imai.
- Russia says Imai was detained on suspicion of espionage.
- The exchange took place amid wider tensions over Ukraine and territory.

## Summary

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi urged Russia’s Sergei Lavrov to release journalist Yuki Imai, detained in Sakhalin on suspicion of espionage. Their brief meeting at the G20 in Atlanta was a rare high-level contact as relations remain strained over the war in Ukraine and a territorial dispute.

Japan said Motegi also pressed Russia to support a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, and that the ministers would stay in contact. Moscow said full interstate dialogue would require Tokyo to abandon what it calls unfriendly policies. The countries have no formal peace treaty dating from the Second World War, while Japan has joined sanctions on Russia but still buys Russian liquefied natural gas.

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