Istanbul Requests to Extradite 8 Soldiers Hiding in Greece After Coup Attempt

© AP Photo / Murad SezerFlags of Turkey, left, and the European Union fly over the dome of a mosque in Istanbul, Turkey
Flags of Turkey, left, and the European Union fly over the dome of a mosque in Istanbul, Turkey - Sputnik International
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Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office submitted on Wednesday an official request to the Turkish Justice Ministry for the Greek authorities to extradite eight Turkish military personnel who sought asylum in Greece after they had fled their home country following a recent coup attempt, media reported.

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MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On July 15, the Turkish authorities said that an attempted coup was taking place in the country. A day after the coup attempt, eight Turkish servicemen flew a helicopter to the northern Greek border town of Alexandroupolis where they sought political asylum out of fear for their lives. Turkey demanded their extradition, while the men in question denied any involvement in the coup attempt.

"Eight suspects boarded a Skorsky S 70 Black Hawk model helicopter belonging to the Samandıra Air Base and landed in a region near Riva of [Istanbul’s] Beykoz district. The suspects, who made phone calls for a while there, took off again on July 16 at 10:40 a.m. and landed in Greece… It was determined that the device which is a part of a transponder and also publishes MOD C altitude information had been removed and all military codes and flight information records of the helicopter had been deleted after landing at the Dedeagac [Alexandroupoli] region [in Greece], according to information obtained from command personnel as a result of examinations," the requisition reads, as cited by the Hurriyet Daily.

According to the requisition, which the Turkish Justice Ministry should send to the Greek authorities, the eight men are accused of violating the constitution with force and violence, attempted assassination of the president, crimes against the legislative body and the government and robbery, and are facing jail terms ranging from five years to life sentences for those crimes.

Last month, the asylum interview dates for the eight Turkish servicemen in Greece were postponed until August 19, 23, 24 and 25. They are facing charges in Greece over illegal entry to the country.

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