ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Greece will retry a group of eight Turkish military personnel, who fled Turkey after its failed July 15 military coup, in order to decide whether or not extradite them, as Ankara has persistently requested the Greek government to do so.
"A Greek appeals court will discuss for the second time an extradition request by Turkey for eight Turkish army officials who fled to Greece after the foiled coup attempt," Greek news agency ANA-MPA reported Wednesday.
The agency added that three of the servicemen will appear at Athens’ Appeals Council on April 25, according to the agency's report.
"Suleyman Ozkaynakci, Abdullah Yetik and Ferudum Caban will appear in Athens’ Appeals Council at noon on April 25, while the other five have not yet received a trial date. All eight officers will be represented by Christos Mylonopoulos and Omiros Zelios, the same lawyers they had in the previous court proceedings," it added.
The other five have not yet received a trial date, ANA-MPA reported.
Following the failed attempted coup that killed 249 people and injured nearly 2,200 others, a number of Turkish military officials fled to Greece on a Black Hawk army helicopter. They later sought asylum in the country.
Their helicopter has since been returned to Turkey.
The Greek Supreme Court decided not to extradite any of the deserted soldiers on January 25 despite Ankara's repeated requests.
The servicemen's asylum requests were pending at the time of the decision for a retrial on their extradition, according to Turkish Anadolu Agency.
Greece and Turkey have been NATO allies since 1952, but their relations have been fraught with territorial disputes.
"A Greek appeals court will discuss for the second time an extradition request by Turkey for eight Turkish army officials who fled to Greece after the foiled coup attempt," Greek news agency ANA-MPA reported Wednesday.
The agency added that three of the servicemen will appear at Athens’ Appeals Council on April 25, according to the agency's report.
"Suleyman Ozkaynakci, Abdullah Yetik and Ferudum Caban will appear in Athens’ Appeals Council at noon on April 25, while the other five have not yet received a trial date. All eight officers will be represented by Christos Mylonopoulos and Omiros Zelios, the same lawyers they had in the previous court proceedings," it added.
The other five have not yet received a trial date, ANA-MPA reported.
Following the failed attempted coup that killed 249 people and injured nearly 2,200 others, a number of Turkish military officials fled to Greece on a Black Hawk army helicopter. They later sought asylum in the country.
Their helicopter has since been returned to Turkey.
The Greek Supreme Court decided not to extradite any of the deserted soldiers on January 25 despite Ankara's repeated requests.
The servicemen's asylum requests were pending at the time of the decision for a retrial on their extradition, according to Turkish Anadolu Agency.
Greece and Turkey have been NATO allies since 1952, but their relations have been fraught with territorial disputes.
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