Japanese Man Arrested in Belarus for Espionage Accusations

A Japanese man, Masatoshi Nakanishi, has been arrested in Belarus, accused of working for Japanese intelligence. He allegedly photographed military and civilian infrastructure near the Ukrainian border. The Japanese government protested the arrest, citing human rights concerns. Nakanishi faces up to seven years in prison if convicted.

A Japanese man, identified as Masatoshi Nakanishi, has been apprehended in Belarus under accusations of espionage for Japanese special services. The allegations include photographing sensitive military and civilian infrastructure close to the Ukraine border.

A Belarusian state TV report disclosed that Nakanishi was arrested in July and that he could be sentenced to seven years in prison if found guilty. The report claimed Nakanishi captured 9,000 images of strategic installations, including military bases, airfields, railway lines, and bridges. Nakanishi has resided in Gomel, near the Ukrainian border, since 2018, where he taught Japanese at a local university.

Nakanishi's purported confession was displayed on state TV, which has a history of airing confessions that are believed to be coerced. Following this, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi declared that Japan protested to Belarus, citing human rights concerns over the materials in the report.

(With inputs from agencies.)