Japanese consul declared persona non grata leaves Russia

This was announced during a press conference in Tokyo by Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi.

“The diplomat left Russia on the 28th, but has not yet arrived in Japan,” RIA Novosti quotes him as saying.

Earlier, the FSB reported that it had detained the Japanese consul in Vladivostok, Motoki Tatsunori, while he was carrying out a spy operation.

The Japanese diplomat was declared persona non grata.

The Russian Foreign Ministry handed the Japanese side a note of protest in connection with the espionage activities of the Japanese consul in Vladivostok, the consul, who was declared persona non grata, was ordered to leave Russia within 48 hours.