Czech president appeals to Greek leader over jailed ArmA 3 devs
Hopes the "unfortunate affair" will not have to disrupt relations.
The president of the Czech Republic has formally contacted his Greek counterpart over the plight of two ArmA 3 developers arrested on charges of espionage.
A letter from Czech leader Václav Klaus today highlighted the matter to Greek president Karolos Papoulias, which has seen Bohemia Interactive employees Ivan Buchta and Martin Pezlar held for 70 days awaiting trial.
Klaus told Papoulias that he was following the affair with "special attention" and hoped its resolution would not cause each country's relations to suffer "unnecessary shade".
"I would like to address a matter of two Czech citizens who were arrested in Greece and charged with espionage," Czech president Václav Klaus wrote, translated for Eurogamer by Eurogamer.cz. "This case is very sensitive to the Czech public and also to me as President of the Republic. The fate of our citizens anywhere in the world matters to us.
"I have no doubt that the democratic Greek authorities - police, prosecutors and the courts - will consider this unfortunate matter impartially and independently. Even I do not in any way want to interfere with their work.
"I want to ask you, Mr. President, to follow this unfortunate affair with special attention considering the excellent relations between our nations so this does not throw unnecessary shade onto our relationship.
"Once again, I want to assure you that I have the utmost certainty that our accused citizens will be given all the rights in the search for justice by the Greek authorities.”
Buchta and Pezlar are accused of taking photographs of Greek military installations, something the pair have denied.
They were arrested in September and have since been kept in "tough conditions", sleeping on the floor of a cell with 25 others.
Military shooter ArmA 3 is set on the island where the pair were arrested, but developer Bohemia Interactive has claimed the pair were simply in the country on holiday.
Eurogamer understands a demonstration is due to be held in Prague organised by Daniel Vávra, one of the creators of Mafia and now making a medieval role-playing game at Warhorse Studios.