Turkey seeks return of 8 coup-tied soldiers from Greece

ANKARA

Turkey has demanded the extradition of eight soldiers who fled to Greece in a helicopter just after the July 15 defeated coup, judicial sources said Tuesday.

A file prepared by the Justice Ministry was sent to Greece Tuesday through the Foreign Ministry, the judicial sources said on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

The Justice Ministry's Directorate-General for Law and External Relations prepared the file under an extradition agreement between Turkey and Greece.

The extradition request, written by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, said that Turkey demands the return of the eight military personnel, who landed at Alexandroupoli airport on July 16 on board a Turkish Armed Forces Sikorsky S70 Hawk S/N helicopter, as they face charges of violating the constitution through using force and violence, trying to assassinate the president, and crimes against legislative organs and the government, among other charges.

The eight soldiers fled to Greece in a military helicopter when the July 15 coup attempt failed and sought asylum in this country.

On July 27 Greek authorities issued a month’s extension on the soldiers’ asylum request.

Turkey's government has said the July 15 coup attempt, which left 240 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured, was organized by followers of preacher Fetullah Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania since 1999, and his FETO network.

Gulen is accused of leading a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the parallel state.

(Reporting By Kemal Karadag; Writing by Tutku Umac)