Belarus says it has detained Japanese intelligence agent
5/9/2024 5:50
Belarusian security forces have detained a Japanese
intelligence agent alleged to have observed border areas and
military installations of the ex-Soviet state and Russian ally,
Belarusian media reported on Wednesday.
Media outlets said Belarusian state-owned TV channel
Belarus 1 reported the arrest and said it would provide more
details on Thursday.
Belarusian media said the detained Japanese national was
allegedly involved in gathering intelligence on social and
economic conditions in Belarus, the implementation of China's
"One Belt, One Road" initiative and the situation along
Belarus's border with Ukraine.
The reports said he was filming military infrastructure.
U.S.-funded Radio Liberty quoted the Belarusian television
report as saying the man was detained in the southeastern city
of Gomel and had displayed interest in the "broadest spheres of
interest" in the country.
It said the man had previously taught Japanese at a
university in the city, his wife's home town, and organised an
exhibition of Japanese culture and traditions.
Liberty quoted him as acknowledging that his activity
could have been detrimental to the Belarusian state.
Belarus, led by President Alexander Lukashenko since
1994, is one of Russia's closest allies and allowed Kremlin
leader Vladimir Putin to use its territory to launch the
February 2022
invasion of Ukraine
.
The media reports said it was the first instance of a
Japanese national being implicated in intelligence activity.
A German national was convicted in June of terrorism and
mercenary activity in Belarus and sentenced to death, but was
freed as part of a mass exchange of prisoners between Russia,
Belarus, the United States and other countries.
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