Japan's Defense Ministry will cooperate with the investigation into a former National Self-Defense Forces officer who is allegedly suspected of passing classified information to a former employee of the Russian Embassy in Tokyo.
Law enforcement agencies believed that in 2013, two years ago, he disclosed documents related to the operations of a military unit. The officer, whose name has not been disclosed, commanded Japanese units in Tokyo and several prefectures across the country. "For someone entrusted with classified information, it's natural to guard it," TASS quotes Mr. Nakatani as saying.
It is noted that the former officer may be charged with passing classified military data to a representative of another country. Police intend to question other military personnel in the case, as well as a representative of the Russian diplomatic mission in Japan.
The Russian diplomatic mission in Tokyo, in turn, has not yet commented on this information.
Kyodo News reports that the Russian embassy employee who received the materials has completed his assignment and left Japan. He is expected to be summoned for questioning.
