ID :
22681
Sun, 10/05/2008 - 20:40
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/22681
The shortlink copeid
Japan refusing visa to Russian diplomat suspected of espionage links+
TOKYO, Oct. 5 Kyodo - The Japanese government has been refusing to grant a diplomatic visa to aRussian diplomat for more than 18 months, several Japanese government sources said Sunday, with one diplomatic source saying the diplomat could be linked to the Russian intelligence service.
The 57-year-old male diplomat was initially supposed to be posted to the
Russian Embassy in Japan in spring last year to oversee cultural exchange
activities, according to the sources.
Japan has rarely denied entry to Russian diplomats, although there have been
cases when Japanese law enforcement officials have cracked down on former
Soviet or Russian intelligence agents who entered Japan on diplomatic visas,
the sources said.
The diplomatic source said the diplomat in question is suspected of being
linked to Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, known by its Russian acronym
SRV, the successor of the KGB.
He served as a cultural attache at the Soviet consulate general in Osaka for
several years from the late 1970s and records show he has since had no
long-term assignment in Japan, the sources said.
On the grounds for refusing him entry, the Japanese government has received a
tip from ''an ally'' and there is also a possibility that Tokyo could be taking
issue with some of his ''activities'' in a third country that appeared
inconsistent with his diplomatic status, according to the sources.
Refusing to admit a diplomat from a country often results in tit-for-tat
actions but no Japanese diplomats have been barred from entering Russia
recently, the sources said.
But Russia has refused for more than a year since summer last year a visa to a
journalist who was planning to be posted as the head of the Moscow bureau of a
Japanese media organization.
Some Russian sources said the journalist's case could be linked to the
rejection of a visa for the diplomat.
A Russian Embassy spokesman withheld any comment on the issue, saying there is
nothing to talk about with regard to this case.
Akira Muto, director of the Russian Division at the Japanese Foreign Ministry's
European Affairs Bureau, said, ''We do not comment on whether or not there is
any problem with a specific visa issue.
==Kyodo
2008-10-05 17:56:27
The 57-year-old male diplomat was initially supposed to be posted to the
Russian Embassy in Japan in spring last year to oversee cultural exchange
activities, according to the sources.
Japan has rarely denied entry to Russian diplomats, although there have been
cases when Japanese law enforcement officials have cracked down on former
Soviet or Russian intelligence agents who entered Japan on diplomatic visas,
the sources said.
The diplomatic source said the diplomat in question is suspected of being
linked to Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, known by its Russian acronym
SRV, the successor of the KGB.
He served as a cultural attache at the Soviet consulate general in Osaka for
several years from the late 1970s and records show he has since had no
long-term assignment in Japan, the sources said.
On the grounds for refusing him entry, the Japanese government has received a
tip from ''an ally'' and there is also a possibility that Tokyo could be taking
issue with some of his ''activities'' in a third country that appeared
inconsistent with his diplomatic status, according to the sources.
Refusing to admit a diplomat from a country often results in tit-for-tat
actions but no Japanese diplomats have been barred from entering Russia
recently, the sources said.
But Russia has refused for more than a year since summer last year a visa to a
journalist who was planning to be posted as the head of the Moscow bureau of a
Japanese media organization.
Some Russian sources said the journalist's case could be linked to the
rejection of a visa for the diplomat.
A Russian Embassy spokesman withheld any comment on the issue, saying there is
nothing to talk about with regard to this case.
Akira Muto, director of the Russian Division at the Japanese Foreign Ministry's
European Affairs Bureau, said, ''We do not comment on whether or not there is
any problem with a specific visa issue.
==Kyodo
2008-10-05 17:56:27
