Greek court to retry coup-linked Turkish servicemen

By Furkan Naci Top

ATHENS

A Greek court of appeals will reconsider extraditing eight former members of the Turkish military who requested asylum in Greece after fleeing Turkey following the July 15 coup attempt, according to media reports.

"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.

Three of the servicemen -- Suleyman Ozkaynakci, Feridun Coban, and Abdullah -- will appear at Athens’ Appeals Council on April 25, according to the agency's report.

The other five have not yet received a trial date, the agency reported.

Hours after the coup attempt resulted in 249 deaths last year, for which Ankara blames Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the Turkish military officials fled to Greece on a Black Hawk army helicopter.

The aircraft was returned the next day, but the soldiers immediately requested asylum and stayed.

On Jan. 26, the Greek Supreme Court decided not to extradite any of the fugitive soldiers, despite Ankara's repeated requests and of a fair trial. The Turkish government made a second request the next day.

The servicemen's asylum requests had been pending at the time of the decision for a retrial on their extradition.