PRAGUE, Czech Republic –– Two Czech politicians have been detained in Cuba while on a private visit, the Foreign Ministry said Sunday.

Former Finance Minister Ivan Pilip, who now sits in parliament, and Jan Bubenik, member of a Czech pro-democracy foundation, were detained on Friday in Ciego de Avila, some 185 miles southeast of Havana, the ministry said in a statement sent to The Associated Press.

There was no official explanation, said the statement, but according to unofficial information from Cuban police, the two were detained for having allegedly met with unidentified members of Cuba's opposition.

They were transferred to the Cuban capital of Havana, where they remain in jail.

"The Foreign Ministry considers the detentions groundless and incompatible with principles the Czech Republic as well as other democratic states profess," the statement said.

It said all necessary steps are being taken by the Czech side to secure their immediate release.