Turkey’s justice ministry Friday submitted a new extradition request for eight suspects allegedly linked to the failed July coup, a day after the Greek Supreme Court refused to return them in a ruling that angered Ankara.
The Greek court blocked the extradition of the former Turkish army officers, saying that they would not have a fair trial in Turkey. Ankara denounced the ruling, saying it was “taken with a political motive”.
The suspects — who landed a helicopter in Greece a day after the botched putsch and asked for asylum — were also ordered to be released from police custody.
The justice ministry swiftly sent its second request to Greece for the suspects’ extradition, state-run news agency Anadolu reported.
The Turkish foreign ministry said late Thursday it would evaluate the impact of the move on ties with Athens, including cooperation in the fight against terrorism and other regional issues.
In a bitter statement, the ministry said the eight individuals played “an active role” in the coup which tried to overthrow President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and accused the Greek judiciary of encouraging “impunity”.
The foreign ministry added the decision “was opposed to international law norms and principles” as well as violating the rights of the victims of the coup, in a statement.
Referring to Greece’s own history under military rule, it said: “As a country which experienced coups in its past Greece, with this decision, has unfortunately become a country which protects coup plotters.”
Source: AFP
