Two Czechs suspected of spying in Greece arrive in Prague

Martin Pezlar and Ivan Buchta were released from custody after they paid the bail of 5000 euros each.

The level of the bail was announced by lawyer Dagmar Raupachova who supervises the case at the request of the two men´s families.

They both said they want to continue cooperating with Greek authorities as much as possible.

The criminal proceedings against them will continue.

"It is the only possibility what to do in this situation," Buchta said.

Greek authorities suspect the men, employees of a software firm, of having taken photographs for a new game in the sensitive region along the Turkish border.

It was spoken about a punishment of up to 20 years in prison after their detention. The criminal prosecution will continue even after their return home.

The men are employees of Bohemia Interactive that develops computer games.

According to previous media information, the Greek police said they were taking photographs on Lemnos Island for a new game.

The firm, however, dismissed the information that its employees were in Greece on business and they, too, said later they were on a private holiday in Greece, taking photographs as tourists.

A similar case was in the limelight in October 2011 when three Czechs were arrested on suspicion of spying in Zambia.

According to Zambian authorities, they were taking photographs of entries to barracks and a Zambian air base, for which they faced up to 30 years in prison.

They were released on bail after a week, but were banned from leaving the country and had to regularly report themselves with the police.

At the end of December 2011, the three Czechs who dismissed all accusations, secretly returned to the Czech Republic and Zambia issued a warrant for their arrest.

Last April, the criminal proceeding against them were stopped in Zambia.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz