News

Devs charged with espionage released on bail, free to return home
Posted: 15.01.2013 15:36 by Simon Priest Comments: 6
Ivan Buchta and Martin Pezlar have been released on €5,000 bail after being detained for four months by Greek authorities, without charge. The Bohemia Interactive devs can return home.

The developers were accused of taking pictures of military installations on a Greek island to undermine national security. Neither are required to remain within Greece, so hopefully it will all go away.

This has likely come about from Czech Republic's leader Petr Nečas directly contacting his Greek counterpart. This bizarre situation caught attention of press and eventually leaders.

The island in question features in the upcoming ARMA 3, which is a battle ground between NATO and Iranian forces. With any luck Ivan Buchta and Martin Pezlar will now be free of this nightmare, with Greece perhaps looking to let this ugly business just fizzle out and be swept up the rug.

"As a result of repeated dealings, today the Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras informed Czech Prime Minister Petr Nečas over the telephone that the two Czechs arrested by Greek police because of supposed photography of military objects on the island of Lemnos have been released. Both can now return back to the Czech Republic. PM Petr Nečas expressed appreciation for the efforts of PM Antonis Samaras and thanked him,” said a Petr Nečas spokesperson.

Congratulations to Ivan Buchta, Martin Pezlar, Bohemia and everyone who's fought for their freedom.
Source: RPS

Comments

By djole381 (SI Elite) on Jan 15, 2013
djole381
Finally!!! I hope they learned their lesson. You don't screw around with the military.
By PapVogel (SI Member) on Jan 15, 2013
PapVogel
Awesome, best bloody news of the day
By nocutius (SI Elite) on Jan 15, 2013
nocutius
About time, this dragged on for too long.
By unsilviu (SI Core) on Jan 15, 2013
unsilviu
Amazing, I was really disturbed by this incident, sounded surreal.

@djole: There is no lesson to be learned, they did nothing wrong. All they did was take photos that included a base that is clearly visible from Google Maps, nevermind the satelite espionage capabilities of a nation.
By djole381 (SI Elite) on Jan 15, 2013
djole381
@unsilviu
They were caught photographing military installations. Visible on Google Maps or not, it's completely irrelevant. They should have asked for a permission from the authorities or at the very least should have inquired about the laws regarding photographing military facilities. You have to understand, two foreigners going around photographing military facilities is very suspicious regardless of who they are. I just feel that the authorities have overreacted with detention lasting this long. They should feel lucky though, as the Greeks could have easily decided to make an example of them.
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Jan 16, 2013
herodotus
Naughty boys. Might teach them to read the visitor's warning guide before taking "illegal" photos.
"Oh yes, I was taking a photo of your military installation, sir. I'm making a videogame".
*ka-chink!*