A Japanese citizen was detained in Vladivostok while trying to obtain classified materials about Russia’s military abilities, officials have confirmed.

The suspected spy was arrested on Saturday while trying to obtain secrets about the military assets Russia has in the Far East, the ministry said. The Japanese national, who was in Russia on a journalistic visa, was instructed to leave the country within 72 hours. He obliged and departed on Sunday.

“The Japanese diplomats accredited in Russia have been issued with a note of protest, stating that such activities are not acceptable,” the Russian ministry said.

The news comes amid an unfolding espionage scandal involving a Japanese citizen, who was arrested for allegedly passing a Japanese phone carrier’s proprietary information to the Russian trade mission in Tokyo.

Yutaka Araki, 48, is suspected of abusing his position at SoftBank, his former employer, to obtain trade secrets. The alleged theft happened in February last year, the Japanese police said.

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Source: RT