Custody on Disputed Island

Russian official took a Japanese interpreter for delegation of “no-visa visitors” to Northern Territory of Japan in custody on Saturday. He was suspected as possessing undeclared ¥4 million in cash. The delegation left him and got back to Nemuro, Hokkaido. It was highly unusual for Japanese in no-visa tour to be captured by Russian official. Japanese government regarded Russian action as exercise of law enforcement to appeal its sovereignty on the island.

No-visa visit was started in 1992 with agreement of both government of Japan and Russia for humanitarian purpose. Former Japanese residents of Northern Territory or their relatives have visited their hometown or graveyard without visa, leaving the issue of sovereignty aside. The delegation this time with 64 teachers and students visited Kunashiri Island on Friday and shortened its itinerary due to bad weather.

The interpreter was taken in custody after inspection of baggage before boarding the chartered ship. Russian media reported that one Japanese who possessed undeclared money was captured and the custom official was interviewing him. The interpreter has been working for no-visa visitors since 1994. It is unlikely that he would make illegal activity in the delegation, in which he had long experience as a constant visitor.

A Russian official explained that the interpreter violated domestic law of Russia by transporting cash. But, as long as the project was taken place with sovereignty left aside, Russia has no power to apply its domestic law to those Japanese visitors. “The activity of Russia based on their jurisdiction cannot be accepted in light of our legal standpoint. It’s extremely regrettable,” told Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga.

It was unusual for Russian officials to inspect baggage of passengers, because each government was recognized as having no right for customs, immigration and quarantine on no-visa visitors. Some visitors supposed that the Russian officials on that day, caused by change of itinerary, was not familiar to traditional process for no-visa visit. Whether or not with certain intention, anyway, Russia exercised its jurisdiction on no-visa visitors.

There is a tendency that Russian government has strictly been applying its own principle. In the procedure of entering the island these years, Russian officials required to right down the name of visiting island with Russian name. Japanese Ministry for Foreign Affairs has firmly been protesting such exercise of sovereignty. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin early next month. It is closely watched how Abe will protest that unusual exercise of sovereignty on innocent Japanese visitor.