Iran releases six Slovaks; two more still held

Iran says it has freed six Slovak nationals who spent more than two months in jail for breaking unspecified laws, but two others remain in detention.

 

The eight entered Iran as tourists in June but were arrested for "unconventional behavior" and "breaking the laws."

 

A top Iranian lawmaker has said the Slovaks were "spies" suspected of photographing prohibited sites. Iran has occasionally detained foreign nationals on similar charges over the past years.

 

Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Monday that six were released from prison and handed over to Slovak Embassy officials in Tehran. The official IRNA news agency says authorities are investigating the other two.

 

In February Iran released a Slovak national after holding him for weeks on accusation of spying for the CIA.