French filmmaker provisionally released in Togo

French filmmaker Gael Mocaer and local fixer Fred Vedomey have been provisionally released in Togo after being detained since July on charges of making “false statements,” their lawyer Martial Akakpo said Wednesday.

Mocaer and Vedomey were arrested on July 27 in northern Togo with a second French national, Perez Pezzani, while filming a travel documentary series for France Televisions. Akakpo confirmed Togolese media reports that the pair had been freed, but no details were given about the terms of their release.

Pezzani was released under judicial supervision at the end of August so he could receive medical treatment, and his passport was confiscated.

All three men have been charged with making “false statements.” Prosecutors have said they have “serious evidence” against them and accuse them in particular of using a drone in northern Togo, where the security situation is tense because of recurrent jihadist attacks.

Togolese authorities also said there were “several irregularities in the preparation and execution” of the trip. The men’s production company disputes that and says all three complied with the rules. Akakpo said the three men deny the charges.

Northern Togo borders Burkina Faso, which has seen deadly Islamist violence by Al-Qaeda and Islamic State group affiliates, as have several neighbouring countries. Togo has been ruled since 2005 by Faure Gnassingbe, who succeeded his father, Eyadema. Reporters Without Borders ranks Togo 97th out of 180 countries for press freedom.