国後から渡航のロシア人保護　亡命希望？泳いで上陸―北海道

　加藤勝信官房長官は２３日の記者会見で、北方領土の国後島から渡航してきたとするロシア人男性を北海道内で警察が保護し、札幌出入国在留管理局が事情聴取していると明らかにした。関係者によると、男性は国後島の対岸に位置する標津町で発見され、１９日に保護された。
　これまでの聴取に対し、「泳いで渡ってきた」などと説明。第三国への亡命を求めているとの情報もある。発見当時の服装はウエットスーツだったという。（2021/08/23-13:03）

A Russian man who claims to have come from one of the islands at the center of a territorial dispute between Tokyo and Moscow has been under protective custody in Hokkaido, the Japanese government said Monday.
   The man was found in the Hokkaido town of Shibetsu, located near the coast opposite to Kunashiri, and was put under protective custody by police on Thursday, sources familiar with the situation said.
   Kunashiri is one of the four northwestern Pacific islands held by Russia and claimed by Japan.
   The Russian man is being questioned by the regional immigration services bureau in Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato told a press conference.
   The man has told immigration officials that he swam to Hokkaido, the sources said. He was reportedly wearing a wet suit at the time he was found. There have also been suggestions that he is seeking asylum in a third country.