Ota Vrtatko has sent us an official statement by
Bohemia Interactive's CEO Marek Španěl regarding the detainment of
Ivan Buchta and
Martin Pezlar in Greece.
Quote Marek Španěl :
Prague, 20th September 2012
My colleagues and I were shocked when we found out about the detention of our co-workers and friends, Martin Pezlar and Ivan Buchta, on the Greek island of Lemnos. Everybody who knows them realizes that they’re not spies and certainly never intended to threaten Greek national security.
The guys visited the island as tourists. Their trip to Lemnos was personal, organized via travel agent, with the single goal of experiencing the place that had inspired the virtual environments of Arma 3, a computer game that they’ve been working on over the past two years.
Our company has never gathered or collected any restricted information, such as photos or blueprints of military installations of any nation, nor have we ever tasked anybody else to do it on our behalf. We always respect the law and we develop all of our products using publicly available materials only - Arma 3 is no exception.
According to media sources, the Greek ministry of National Defence actually examined our game, after local authorities raised this topic. They assured that the game is fine. Originally planned for release in autumn of this year, it is based upon a fictional future, set in 2035.
The whole incident is a terrible personal tragedy for Ivan, Martin and their families; I believe it to be no more than a deep misunderstanding, one which will be swiftly explained. I’m ready to support the guys and their families in these difficult times as much as I can.
Marek Španěl
Bohemia Interactive a.s. CEO
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as much as i feel sorry for the situation of the 2 bi employees i just cant believe that they are still imprisoned for just acting like ordinary tourists do on a daily basis.
Perhaps they did something more than just this.
i dont mean they were actually spying but perhaps they did something which led in a combination of other things to a detention.
I have no doubts that they are indeed innocent, but perhaps they crossed a line out of curiosity without really thinking of the dangers.
We all do sometimes things which in retrospective seems so idiotic but at the very moment not a bad idea.
i hope they will get released soon but i dont think that pressuring the greek authorities makes it easier for them.
i strongly believe that everything should kept quite and behind the scenes.
My opinion is: let the bi team and their legal advisors do their work quitely and without putting to much attention in the open for this case.
And if they are indeed charged with being spies then thats what the greek legal system has to PROVE that they are. And if they are not (im pretty positive they are not) then there shouldnt be any problems as the greek legal system has to follow the law as everyone else in the EU. No concrete evidence - release.
I hope we get to see them soon.
Alex, that's all fine and good except for the fact that the Greek judicial system went on strike, so no one's going to get around to proving anything for a while. They Greek courts don't seem to care much about proof anyway.
They just need to send in Dwarden, Gaia, Rocket and Celery (who must be special forces if Lord Ivan is a spy) to break them out of jail. :)
Why sending in 4 people when one is enough?
Just send Chuck Norris!
sorry, who is that chuck norris?
I think Chuck Norris is too busy fearing a black man as President, and the thousands years of darkness that await when he's re-elected.
I still suspect this arrest was planned by the Greek authorities in order to get BIS to modify their island layout. Whether the mayor of Lemnos used some connections, or if someone higher up already agreed with him. I won't be surprised at all if Ivan, and Martin, are released soon enough, and when Arma III comes out we find that the map has changed.
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