France, Aug. 23 -- In their first official statement on the case, released on Saturday, Togo's ministries of justice and security accused the team of not having the proper permits to film.

The three men were arrested on 27 July while shooting a travel documentary in northern Togo for French television.

The government says their paperwork was only in Vedomey's name and did not authorise them to film in locations they visited in the Savanes region and Bimah prefecture, where they were detained.

They are also accused of using a drone "whose specifications had not been declared in advance".

A lawyer for the journalists, Martial Akakpo, told French news agency AFP his clients denied all the allegations. Reporters Without Borders has called...