Turkey summons Norway’s envoy over granting asylum to NATO soldiers, military attaché

ANKARA

Norway’s ambassador to Turkey has been summoned to the Foreign Ministry after Norway granted asylum to five former Turkish military officers allegedly linked to the Fethullahist Terror Organization (FETÖ) after the failed July 15, 2016 coup attempt, a ministry spokesperson said on March 22.       

“It is saddening and unacceptable to see an allied country supporting the efforts of individuals who were recalled from their state duty and who abused the political, social, and economic resources of their country of residence instead of returning to Turkey,” according to spokesperson Hüseyin Müftüoğlu.       

The asylum-seekers include a former military attaché and four military officers who worked at a NATO education center in Norway.       

They had previously denied any connection with the attempted takeover in an interview with the Norwegian daily VG and said they had already been dismissed from their posts, while also fearing that they would face prosecution upon their return.

Along with the soldiers and the military attaché, Oslo also accepted the asylum applications of their family members. They have reportedly been residing in a secret address in the country.