The eight Turkish military officers who fled to Greece after last Friday's failed coup attempt were found guilty of illegal entry in Greece on Thursday, Greek national broadcaster ERT reported.
The local court at the northern city of Alexandroupolis where they landed on Saturday in a Turkish military helicopter sentenced them to two months in prison.
The eight men claimed that they fled to Greece issuing a false distress signal to secure permission for emergency landing fearing for their lives when their helicopter came under fire by Turkish police on Friday night.
Turkish officials have branded them traitors and said their extradition will be requested.
The officers deny any involvement in the coup attempt and have filed claims for asylum request.
The process was expected to start with their interviews before the local asylum agency on July 27 and may last two to three months, according to their lawyers. Until then they will remain in custody.
During Thursday's trial outside the courthouse a small group of local Greek Muslims were demonstrating against the "traitors" and in favor of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
[Xinhua]
21/7/16
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Related:
- They faced up to five years imprisonment but the Greek judges acknowledged they acted under special circumstances in fear for their safety.
The eight men claimed that they fled to Greece issuing a false distress signal to secure permission for emergency landing fearing for their lives when their helicopter came under fire by Turkish police on Friday night.
Turkish officials have branded them traitors and said their extradition will be requested.
The officers deny any involvement in the coup attempt and have filed claims for asylum request.
The process was expected to start with their interviews before the local asylum agency on July 27 and may last two to three months, according to their lawyers. Until then they will remain in custody.
During Thursday's trial outside the courthouse a small group of local Greek Muslims were demonstrating against the "traitors" and in favor of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
[Xinhua]
21/7/16
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Related:
- A Turkish military helicopter has reportedly landed in northern Greece carrying eight men who have requested political asylum after being arrested, police say.
- The Turkish foreign minister has called on Greece to return the eight Turks who fled there in a military helicopter and asked for asylum.
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Turquie: deux mois de prison avec sursis pour les huit militaires turcs ayant fui en Grèce ...
ReplyDeleteLes huit militaires turcs qui ont fui en Grèce après le coup d'Etat manqué ont été condamnés à deux mois de prison avec sursis jeudi par le tribunal d'Alexandroupolis pour "entrée illégale" dans ce pays.
Malgré ce sursis, ils resteront en rétention jusqu'à la décision sur leur demande d'asile, a précisé un responsable la police.
Les huit militaires, dont cinq pilotes, avaient été arrêtés et placés en détention provisoire après leur arrivée en hélicoptère à l'aéroport d'Alexandroupolis samedi matin, quelques heures après le putsch avorté en Turquie.
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