Spotlight: Rejecting extradition request of Turkish officers not to help bilateral ties: Turkish ambassador

A potential rejection of the extradition request of the eight Turkish military officers who landed in northern Greece last Saturday will not help bilateral ties, Turkish Ambassador to Greece Kerim Uras warned on Tuesday, according to Greek national broadcaster ERT.

The Turkish official made the statement a few hours after the eight officers who seek asylum in Greece appeared before the asylum agency to formally file their claim at the city of Alexandroupolis, where they landed in a Turkish military helicopter after the failed military coup in Turkey.

Uras said that Turkey has submitted a request for their extradition and has given Greek authorities all necessary evidence showing the officers' involvement in the coup attempt.

The ambassador added that the Greek authorities should not have allowed the landing, and reassured that they will face a fair trial in Turkey.

The Greek side has not verified yet whether a formal request has been made.

The eight men through their Greek lawyers insisted that they had no idea about the coup and fled to Greece fearing for their lives when their helicopter came under fire by Turkish police on Friday night and their families told them about the coup.

They landed in Greece after issuing a distress call and now face charges of illegal entry, while the helicopter was returned to Turkey.

Two of their lawyers have told Xinhua that the officers fear for their safety in Turkey. Endit