Slovak and Iranian security forces continue talks on paragliders

Prime Minister Robert Fico and Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák ended negotiations in Iran with the main deputy of Iranian president and first vice-president Eshaq Jahangiri about transporting the remaining two detained Slovak paragliders home. However, the talks continue between the due security authorities of the two countries, the Slovak Government Office informed the TASR newswire on December 12.

Prime Minister Robert Fico and Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák ended negotiations in Iran with the main deputy of Iranian president and first vice-president Eshaq Jahangiri about transporting the remaining two detained Slovak paragliders home. However, the talks continue between the due security authorities of the two countries, the Slovak Government Office informed the TASR newswire on December 12.

At the Slovak embassy in Tehran, they met the two Slovaks – who were detained, together with six already released colleagues, in May. The Slovak delegation flew to Iran to negotiate the final completion of the release of Pavol Šeliga and Marek Stolarčík, TASR wrote.

The Iranian newswire Mehr informed on the release of the last two Slovak paragliders on December 11.

Eight Slovaks were detained in mid-May for what Iranian authorities called “illegal activities, including taking photos of prohibited places” in the Isfahan province, where several key nuclear facilities are located, including at least one plant used for enriching uranium. They are members of Paragliding Expedition Slovakia, a group that has organised several expeditions in recent years, and which made documentary films that they later presented at film festivals. The group claims to have travelled to Iran as tourists in early May.

Iranian authorities confirmed that eight Slovak paragliders had been detained on June 30, saying they were “behaving inappropriately and had unconventional devices with them”, as reported by TASR. One of the six released paragliders said that they were allegedly detained for having dual-band transmitters.

(Source: TASR)

Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports

The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.

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