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2026 October 21 - 27 TOP3 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

JCP urges Hokkaido governor to make efforts for immediate release of Japanese journalist detained by Russia

The Japanese Communist Party Hokkaido Prefectural Assemblymembers’ Group on October 23 submitted to the prefectural government a written request demanding that the governor file a strong protest against the detention of a Hokkaido Shimbun reporter by Russia and work toward his immediate release.

In the document, the JCP requested the prefectural government to make utmost effort that meet the JCP demands, such as achieving an early return of the journalist, ensuring humanitarian consideration and fair and impartial treatment for the journalist, obtaining necessary information in collaboration with the national government, and providing this information to the journalist’s family.

In the submission, JCP prefectural assemblymember Mashita Noriko, who heads the JCP assemblymembers’ group, stressed that the latest incident is an attack on journalism and undermines democracy. She referred to the 2004 incident in which a Hokkaido citizen was taken hostage in Iraq, and said that following the incident, the governor at that time dispatched the deputy governor to the Foreign Ministry to handle the situation. However, she pointed out, “This time, Governor Suzuki Naomichi did not issue a statement calling for the journalist’s swift release. I hope the governor will work to protect Hokkaido citizens.”