ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—A Turkish Blackhawk military helicopter with eight passengers on board landed in Alexandroupolis, Greece midday on Saturday, Greek officials confirmed.
“They are military officers up to the level of major,” a senior Greek official was reported as saying.
Turkey’s Dogan news agency is reporting that the soldiers include two majors, a captain, and five privates. Greek officials have said that the passengers were seven soldiers and one civilian.
All eight men on board the helicopter were arrested by Greek police on charges of entering the country illegally.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu asked Greece to extradite the eight soldiers but they have requested asylum and their claims are being processed under international law.
“It will be taken into consideration that in their country they are accused of attempting to overturn the constitutional democracy and violate legality,” Olga Gerovasili, a Greek government spokesperson said on state TV, with respect to the asylum claims.
The eight men will appear before a Greek prosecutor on Sunday, a Greek government official said.
Turkey is sending a delegation to Alexandroupolis to retrieve the helicopter, Greek officials confirmed.
More than 1,500 military personnel have been detained across Turkey for participation in the failed coup to overthrow the government of President Tayyip Recep Erdogan.
“They are military officers up to the level of major,” a senior Greek official was reported as saying.
Turkey’s Dogan news agency is reporting that the soldiers include two majors, a captain, and five privates. Greek officials have said that the passengers were seven soldiers and one civilian.
All eight men on board the helicopter were arrested by Greek police on charges of entering the country illegally.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu asked Greece to extradite the eight soldiers but they have requested asylum and their claims are being processed under international law.
“It will be taken into consideration that in their country they are accused of attempting to overturn the constitutional democracy and violate legality,” Olga Gerovasili, a Greek government spokesperson said on state TV, with respect to the asylum claims.
The eight men will appear before a Greek prosecutor on Sunday, a Greek government official said.
Turkey is sending a delegation to Alexandroupolis to retrieve the helicopter, Greek officials confirmed.
More than 1,500 military personnel have been detained across Turkey for participation in the failed coup to overthrow the government of President Tayyip Recep Erdogan.
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