Imprisoned 'ARMA 3' developers speak out since arrest in Greece

Arrested ARMA 3 developers speak out.

The two ARMA 3 developers arrested last week in Greece for alleged espionage today released a joint statement maintaining their innocence, while being held in the Lesbos capital of Mytilene.

"The conditions are tough, but the people we meet treat us fairly and correctly. It is all a completely absurd misunderstanding that will certainly be quickly explained," the duo writes.

"We mainly think of you, our families; you have to stay calm and not to worry about us. We hope we will meet soon."

Bohemia Interactive spokesman Ota Vrtatko states allegations against the two are unwarranted, despite Greek authorities maintaining the arrested developers were taking photographs of a military installation.

"Having travelled there, and after meeting personally with them both, as well as their lawyer who is fully acquainted with the Greek authority's investigation file in detail, we can assure you that these insinuations are completely false and without substance," said Vrtatko.

"Their holiday was a product of their interest in the island, triggered by their work on ARMA 3 over the past two years of development.

"They took photographs and videos in public areas, as countless tourists arriving to enjoy the beauty and hospitality of Greece may well do. These included a short video as they drove through the main road passing around the international airport, where in one short part of the video off in the distance some hangars and other buildings of the complex can be seen.

"It's very likely that many tourists may have pictures similar to those taken by Ivan and Martin in their own family albums, without being aware that they put themselves or their families at risk."

Vrtako added it is not necessary to photograph military installations on Limnos as ARMA 3's interpretation, set in the future, will be much different.

"The in-game Limnos is close to completion, and it's far from an identical replication of the real place. It was heavily modified to fit the game's backstory, a purely fictional 2035 setting. It was re-scaled to only 75 per cent of the real island, and it does not attempt to display any real world military installations situated on the island.

"To summarise the situation: They visited Lemnos on their holiday as tourists. They did not enter any military area. They did not take any pictures of any military objects to be used in ARMA 3."

ARMA 3 is scheduled to release to PC in Q4 of this year.