ARMA 3 developers denied appeal, will go to trial

Two ARMA 3 developers jailed in Greece early September for "espionage" have been denied an appeal, and will be tried in front of a Greek court for taking photos and film of Greek military installations.

According to HelpIvanMartin.org, a website set up to help Czech ARMA 3 developers Ivan Buchta and Martin Pezlar by distributing information and updates about the case to the English speaking world, the developers have been denied an appeal and will be tried for espionage. According to their translation of a recent news report on Czech primetime, their lawyers are planning to make another appeal.

An article on news site Rozhlaz.cz, translated by HelpIvanmartin.org, explains:

Their parents have today released a statement which says that they have been crushed and are full of desperation because nobody has been able to help their sons – who have been jailed for almost 70 days – escape from the absurd and unfair situation. They say they don’t understand how this can happen in a civilized world and hope that somebody will lend them a hand.

Buchta and Pezlar, both Bohemia Interactive employees, were jailed in Greece in early September for suspected espionage after they took photos and film of military installations during a vacation, for use as inspiration in ARMA 3.

To reiterate coworker Dean Hall's suggested courses of action if you want to help:

1. Send a twitter message to the Prime Minister of Greece (@primeministergr) letting him know we want Ivan and Maxel returned to their families immediately. This is probably one of the most public and obvious things you can do to help. Social Media works.
2. Call, write, or visit your nearest Greek Embassy (click the link for a list). Let them know what they have done is wrong, and that you want them released. Be civil, but be honest. We don’t stand for this in the part of the world I come from.
3. Spread the word, let everyone know. Please forward my post on, and these links, to anyone who might be able to help. For more information you can visit my friends website at http://www.helpivanmartin.org/
4. Let the local press on the island know what you think on their facebook page, and their twitter @LesvosNet. Read some of the comments on this article for an idea of what is going on. Let’s end it exactly where it all started in the first place!

Buchta and Martin are facing what could be up to 20 years in prison.

3 Responses to “ARMA 3 developers denied appeal, will go to trial”

1. Arma 3 delayed after “eventful” 2012 « Player Attack says:

   December 13, 2012 at 4:35 pm

   [...] sort of eventful, I hear you ask? Well, there's still two developers from the studio remanded in Greek jail on alleged espionage charges, and that's enough to throw anyone's plans into disarray. Plus, [...]

   Reply
2. Standalone DayZ delayed, explained « Player Attack says:

   January 7, 2013 at 6:20 pm

   [...] on the revised Chernarus map has stalled a little, with lead architect Ivan Buchta still imprisoned in Greece on espionage charges. He's been working with the team via letters, so the game hasn't stopped [...]

   Reply
3. Arma III developers bailed out of Greek jail « Player Attack says:

   January 16, 2013 at 2:00 pm

   [...] each (about $6700), which means they are allowed to return home. The Arma 3 developers had been denied bail in November, but an intense lobbying campaign seems to have changed the mind of the Greek courts. Why not check [...]

   Reply

Article Details

• published: November 18th, 2012
• by: Liam Esler
• in: Company: Bohemia Interactive, Game: Arma 3, Ivan Buchta, Martin Pezlar
• comments: 3

Author Bio:

'Sup world! My cats and I are avid gamers, modders and sometime game developers, and we struggle to function without copious amounts of caffeine.

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