Greek court refuses to extradite 3 Turkish ex-soldiers

By Idyli Tsakiri

ATHENS

The Greek Court of Appeals on Wednesday ruled against the extradition of three more Turkish ex-soldiers allegedly involved in the July 2016 failed coup attempt.

Maj. Ahmet Guzel, Maj. Gencay Boyuk and Sgt. Bilal Kurugul are now free to remain in Greece until their asylum request is processed.

Prosecutor Evgenia Kyvelou proposed the three men not be sent back to Turkey and be released from custody.

The court accepted the proposition, stating that they should be set free unless they are going to be charged with additional criminal offences.

Last week, three more former soldiers received the same verdict. The fate of two remaining Turkish ex-servicemen will be decided Thursday.

A few hours after the July 2016 failed attempt to overthrow the Turkish government, the eight ex-military personnel arrived in Greece on a hijacked Black Hawk helicopter and requested asylum.

Turkey immediately issued an extradition request, which was eventually declined by the Greek Supreme Court in January 2017, after a series of trials and appeals.

A few days later, Turkey issued a second request, which is now being processed.

The failed coup attempt left 249 people martyred and more than 2,100 injured.