Greek court overturns extradition decision against two more Turkish coup-plotting soldiers 

ATHENS

AP photo

A Greek appeals court rejected on Dec. 8 a decision to extradite the last two of eight Turkish soldiers who fled to the country after the failed coup of July 15, meaning only three soldiers will be extradited to Turkey. 

On Dec. 6, the court had decided to extradite three of the soldiers, a day after refusing to extradite three others.

The Athens Council of Appeals judges had found Ankara’s extradition request for three captains justified on charges of attempting to overthrow the state, attempting to impede a parliamentary session and the seizure of a helicopter.

The soldiers, including two majors, flew their helicopters to Greece’s Alexandroupolis on July 16, prompting the Greek authorities to begin legal and diplomatic processes on charges of illegal entry into the country.

In late July, a local Greek court sentenced the eight soldiers to two-month suspended prison terms for illegally entering the country.

Greece’s political asylum commission, meanwhile, rejected the asylum application of seven of the soldiers, leaving just one more soldier to be reviewed for the process.