The Czechs detained in Greece to pay bail and return home
Athens/Prague – Two developers from Czech Republic who were held in a Greek jail since September on suspicion of espionage will be, according to information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, released on bail. Several days ago their attorney Dagmar Raupachová said that the Greek authorities should make a decision regarding their further appeal during January, mid February at the latest. Martin Pezlar and Ivan Buchta will be able to return back to the Czech Republic once they are released. Prime Minister Petr Nečas was so informed by his Greek counterpart Antonis Samaras.
“We received this information from the attorney of the two arrested, who informed us, that they will be released as soon as they pay the bail,” told Česká Televize the deputy ambassador in Greece Miloš Kučera. The bail has been, according to him, set to 5 thousand Euro. “We have an unconfirmed report that both families have the money available and are discussing transferring the money to Greece with their attorney,” Mr. Kučera added.
He highlights that this is just a release on bail, it isn’t a definitive end of the cause, court dealings will continue further. The time frame cannot be estimated, Greek judges are still on strike.
“So far me do not have the decision in a written form,” Dagmar Raupachová said. The attorney that monitors the case on request of the family therefore, according to her own words, does not want to comment on the case much yet. She is happy that her long-term effort wasn’t for nothing. According to her the whole administrative matter should be resolved within several days.
Government’s spokesperson Michal Schuster:
“As a result of repeated dealings, today the Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras informed the Czech Prime Minister Petr Nečas over the telephone that the two Czech arrested by Greek police because of supposed photography of military objects on the island of Lemnos have been released. Petr Nečas expressed appreciation for the efforts of PM Antonis Samaras and thanked him.”
The pair of game developers were arrested by the Greek police due to photography of military objects. According to information from Greek press the two men were monitored since their arrival by the Greek security service who supposedly also contacted Czech security services.
An appeal for their release of the detained Czechs has previously come from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister Petr Nečas and even a presidential letter by Václav Klaus, all until now unsuccessful.
