Two game developers from Czech Republic-based Bohemia Interactive (Arma III), who were jailed in Greece for the past 218 days, will finally be able to go home, according to Czech media reports translated on a site dedicated to the men's release.


Ivan Buchta and Martin Pezlar had been facing up to 20 years in prison on charges of espionage after they were caught photographing a Greek military base. The developers had maintained that they were sightseeing and possibly scouting locations for an upcoming game.


The two had been denied bail in November, but strong lobbying for their release appears to have paid off.

The developer's release on bail for 5000 Euros each (about $6700) allows them to return home to the Czech Republic where they will presumably be safe from Greek prosecution. The arrangement was formalized through a conversation between the prime ministers of Greece and the Czech Republic, according to this Czech media report translated by the "HelpIvanMartin" blog:

As a result of repeated dealings, today the Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras informed Czech PM 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. Both can now return back to the Czech Republic. PM Petr Nečas expressed appreciation for the efforts of PM Antonis Samaras and thanked him," said Petr Nečas' spokesperson Michal Schuster on Tuesday.


No word from Bohemia Interactive on this yet (we're checking in with them), but the company's Dean Hall, who is responsible for the popular DayZ mod, is jubilant:


Ivan & Martin Free on bail [Help Ivan & Martin, via Rock Paper Shotgun]