Moscow, May 24 (IANS) Four Russian bikers travelling through Iraq have been arrested on charges of spying in the country, and face up to 10 years in jail if found guilty, RIA Novosti reported Thursday.
Oleg Kapkayev, Alexander Vardanyants, Oleg Maksimov and Maxim Ignatyev were detained in Kirkuk, but then briefly released after the Russian consul's assistance, said Alexander Orlov, a member of the Moscow-based motorcycle club RAMCC.
However, when the bikers nearly reached Iraqi capital Baghdad, they were again detained and transferred to an Iraqi military base where their documents were seized, he said.
Orlov said the men were severely beaten and accused of espionage and visa forgery and are being threatened with the death penalty.
"They are one of the most experienced moto-tourists in Russia. They have crossed the whole world... the speculations that they had forged the visas is mere nonsense," he said.
The bikers face up to 10 years in jail if found guilty of espionage, he said.
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the foreign ministry was doing its best to secure the release of the men.
The Russian embassy in Iraq called on the country's foreign ministry Thursday to help release the bikers as soon as possible, ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said.
The ministry has recommended that Russians stay away from visits to Iraq.
The bikers have previously travelled through the whole of Latin America, the US, Mexico, Europe, China and Mongolia.
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