Greece rejects extradition of Turkey coup plotters
A Greek court on December 5 ruled against the extradition of three Turkish soldiers out of eight who fled to the country one day after the failed July 15 coup attempt, Hurriyet Daily News reports, citing the state-run Anadolu Agency.
The three soldiers will not be extradited on the grounds that their lives are under jeopardy, according to the court ruling.
The hearing for the remaining five soldiers will be held on December 6.
Commenting on the court decision, Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Ishik said Ankaraexpected Athens to make all necessary efforts to extradite all Gulen members accused of orchestrating the failed coup attempt.
Meanwhile, speaking to Reuters, the lawyer of the soldiers Stavroula Tomara described the court decision as “objective.”
“I am very pleased with the ruling, they shouldn’t be extradited. The court was objective,” Tomara said.
The first hearing of the eight soldiers regarding their potential extradition was held on November 28, as the first three denied charges that they were involved in the attempted takeover and said their lives would be at risk if they returned to Turkey.
The soldiers, including two majors, flew their jets to Greece’s Alexandroupolis on July 16, prompting the Greek authorities to begin legal and diplomatic processes on charges of illegal entry into the country.
As the soldiers applied for asylum, Turkey demanded their immediate extradition on suspicion of involvement in the coup attempt.