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japanese media: belarusian media said a "japanese spy" was arrested in the country and the confession video was made public

[global times report] according to reports from reuters and sankei shimbun, belarusian media reported on september 4 that belarusian security departments arrested a "japanese spy." this is the first time that belarus has arrested a japanese on suspicion of espionage.

the sankei shimbun quoted belarusian media as saying that the japanese man tried to collect intelligence on the social and economic conditions in belarus and the situation on the border between belarus and ukraine. he was also said to have filmed military facilities in belarus. in addition, belarusian media released a video of the man admitting his crime. in the video, the handcuffed japanese man said in russian, "my actions may bring harm to belarus."

according to the japan broadcasting association, in response to the belarusian media's report on "japanese spies", the japanese embassy in belarus told the media on september 4 that "a japanese man in his 50s was arrested on july 9 for violating belarusian domestic laws" and that the embassy was providing assistance to the man. however, the japanese embassy refused to disclose information about the man's name, the charges he was accused of, and other information.