A Russian citizen was arrested by Japanese border guards as he arrived illegally on the northern island of Hokkaido on August 20. The man left Kunashir Island (South Kuril District, Sakhalin Oblast) aboard a rubber dinghy and applied for political asylum. This was reported by the Japanese edition of Kyodo. At the same time, it is noted that the detainee has not specified which country he wishes to become a citizen of.
Is the refugee identified?
There is no official data yet. Only mass media information, according to which the age of the detained man is 38 years old. He had a Russian driver's license with him, writes the Hokkaido Shinbun newspaper.
Presumably, the fugitive could be a resident of Yuzhno-Kurilsk Vaas Phoenix Nokard (formerly Vladimir), they write RIA Novosti citing his own source. For the past three years, Vaas has lived on the island of Kounashir in the village of Golovnino. Was unemployed, sometimes slept in a tent. Himself originally from Udmurtia. Previously, the fugitive followed to the Japanese town of Shibetsu in Hokkaido.
“ Before leaving for Japan, Vaas left the motorbike on the shore and asked a friend to pick it up, sell it and send the money back. To another friend a 'defector' wrote that he was already far away and asked not to wait, “a source told RIA Novosti., and in 2011 was deported from Japan for visa violation.
Interfax adds , before arriving in Kunashir, the refugee was given a “ Far Eastern hectare '' via the internet; on an island near the village of Golovnino. lived in the village of Dubovoe in an abandoned house, and on August 17, local residents found him missing and started a search.
“ I have worked part time here and there '' & mdash; I carried boxes to stores and worked part-time on a tractor. While inspecting his apartment, they found posters of Japan and so on, he loved the culture of Japan & # 39; & # 39 ;, & mdash; clarified the source of the post.
Japanese edition of Yomiuri with reference to a local resident, wrote that the man was seen on August 19 in the village of Nakashibetsu. He wandered around the police station in dark blue sportswear, sneakers and a backpack with him.
Mainichi Edition Journal; adds that in addition to the backpack, the Russian had a mask. Later, a source from RIA Novosti said the man may have been able to reach Japan not by boat, but by swimming, in a diving suit.
Has Russia confirmed the nationality of the fugitive?
At the Russian Consulate General in Sapporo (in the Japanese city where, according to preliminary data, the detainee was sent), they said they were not yet ready to recognize the fugitive's Russian nationality. Since the Japanese authorities refuse to provide details of the incident and do not allow speaking with the man.
“ The Japanese authorities refuse to provide us with official information. Police say they know nothing because the alien has been transferred to the Japan Immigration Office in Sapporo. The Maritime Safety Administration also cites a complete lack of data. The head of the immigration control department of the Sapporov branch of the Japanese immigration service, which is in charge of the case, explains the inability to cooperate with the Russian Consulate General by the lack of direction from management in Tokyo, as well as this person's unconfirmed citizenship. The head of the Russian department of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs sends us to Sapporo Immigration. The circle is complete. We intend to obtain appropriate information from the Japanese authorities and to meet with the citizen if his affiliation with the Russian Federation is confirmed “, reads the official appeal of the Consulate General of Russia.
Information sources:
Japan refused to provide information on the Russian who applied for asylum – RIA Novosti, 22/08/2021 (ria.ru)
The Russian who allegedly sailed from Kunashira to Japan did not look wet | News | Izvestia | 08/22/2021 (iz.ru)