Greek court rejects extradition of coup-linked ex-soldiers

With ruling on 2 more ex-soldiers, extradition of all 8 former Turkish troops denied by Greek courts

In a blow to Turkey's efforts to bring accused putschists to justice, a Greek appeals court Thursday rejected the extradition of former two Turkish soldiers, joining six others whose extradition was similarly denied.

Former Capt. Ugur Ucan and Sgt. Mesut Firat were freed after Turkey issued a second extradition request, following the dismissal of its first one, this January.

The ruling means Greek courts have rejected the extradition of all eight ex-soldiers who fled Turkey just after the collapse of last July's coup attempt, which left 249 people martyred and more than 2,100 injured.

They are accused of being involved in the failed coup, which Turkey says was masterminded by the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) and the group's leader, U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen.

The former soldiers fled Turkey a few hours after the failed coup attempt and arrived in Greece on a hijacked Black Hawk helicopter, claiming that their lives were in danger in Turkey.

Greece has now blocked Turkey's extradition requests twice and ordered the men released from custody, unless they are charged with additional criminal offenses.

The men's asylum requests remain to be processed.

Turkey has continuously demanded that the men be sent back to the country to face justice and fair treatment.

However, after a series of trials and appeals, Greece has rejected the demands, citing concerns about the men's safety.

X
Sitelerimizde reklam ve pazarlama faaliyetlerinin yürütülmesi amaçları ile çerezler kullanılmaktadır.

Bu çerezler, kullanıcıların tarayıcı ve cihazlarını tanımlayarak çalışır.

İnternet sitemizin düzgün çalışması, kişiselleştirilmiş reklam deneyimi, internet sitemizi optimize edebilmemiz, ziyaret tercihlerinizi hatırlayabilmemiz için veri politikasındaki amaçlarla sınırlı ve mevzuata uygun şekilde çerez konumlandırmaktayız.

Bu çerezlere izin vermeniz halinde sizlere özel kişiselleştirilmiş reklamlar sunabilir, sayfalarımızda sizlere daha iyi reklam deneyimi yaşatabiliriz. Bunu yaparken amacımızın size daha iyi reklam bir deneyimi sunmak olduğunu ve sizlere en iyi içerikleri sunabilmek adına elimizden gelen çabayı gösterdiğimizi ve bu noktada, reklamların maliyetlerimizi karşılamak noktasında tek gelir kalemimiz olduğunu sizlere hatırlatmak isteriz.