Japanese national detained in Belarus

A Japanese national has been detained in Belarus, according to the Japanese Embassy in the country.

The details of the detainee, including their age, have not been disclosed.

Local media has reported that a Japanese man was detained by local authorities in the Gomel Region, which borders Ukraine, on December 1 while taking photographs of an overpass over railroad tracks.

The detainee was handed over to Belarusian intelligence agencies to be questioned about the purpose of the filming.

A different Japanese national, Nakanishi Masatoshi, who was working as a Japanese language teacher in Belarus, was detained in July of this year on suspicion of espionage.

The Japanese Embassy in Belarus has said that it is aware of Nakanishi’s situation through consular visits.

It said that it will respond appropriately with the Japanese national who was detained recently.