Pro-coup soldiers Suleyman Ozkaynakci and Bilal Kurugul leaves after attending their trial in Athens, Greece on January 10, 2017
By Idyli Tsakiri
ATHENS
A Greek Court of Cassation prosecutor proposed that two more Turkish soldiers, allegedly involved in the 15 July 2016 coup attempt, not be extradited to face charges.
On Wednesday, the cases of Capt. Abdullah Yetik and Capt. Ugur Ucan came before Greece’s top court.
Yetik appealed a prior court ruling that he be sent to Turkey, while prosecutors separately appealed an earlier decision that Ucan be allowed to stay in Greece.
Haralampos Vourliotis, a Supreme Court prosecutor, proposed that both men not be extradited.
Yetik piloted the Black Hawk helicopter which brought eight military personnel from Turkey to Greece hours after the failed coup attempt last year.
The eight men immediately requested asylum, claiming their lives were in danger in their home country.
A final decision about the future of the soldiers will be announced on Jan. 23. The only way for that decision to be overturned is through the European Court of Justice.
Christos Mylonopoulos, one of the defending lawyers, said Vourliotis’s proposal was “very important”.
“[The proposal] is based on the acquis of the European Convention of Human Rights,” he added.
The events of 15 July 2016 in Turkey left at least 248 people martyred and more than 2,000 injured.
Turkey has repeatedly requested the extradition of the eight soldiers, promising to provide fair trials.
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