Turkish military officers may be tried in Greece on coup plot charges: official

by Maria Spiliopoulou

ATHENS, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- The eight Turkish military officers who fled to Greece a day after the failed coup attempt in Turkey in July 2016 could be tried on coup plot charges in Greek courts, Greek Justice Minister Stavros Kontonis said on Thursday.

The Greek government is examining this possibility of a trial in Greece for offences committed abroad, in accordance with the Penal Code, in case it is requested by Turkey, the Greek official told a press briefing, according to Greek national news agency AMNA.

Kontonis reiterated Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' statements since the summer of 2016 that they must have a fair trial.

The Greek leader repeated the remarks also during the recent visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Athens in early December.

"The issue of their extradition has closed once and for all. The decision of the Supreme Court is absolutely respected by all of us," Kontonis said on Thursday referring to the January 2017 ruling of the Greek Supreme Court which rejected Ankara's request for their extradition, citing concerns for violations of human rights in Turkey.

Last week an independent administrative committee in Athens ruled to grant asylum to one of the eight Turkish servicemen.

According to the ruling, it was not proved that the man had participated in the coup attempt. All eight officers have denied any involvement in the plot.

However, a few hours later the Greek government filed an appeal against the ruling.

From day one of this judicial saga which has added strain in cooperation between Athens and Ankara the Greek government has repeatedly stated that it never provides shelter to coup plotters, but fully respects the verdicts of the independent Greek justice.

All servicemen remain in custody until rulings are issued on their asylum applications. Enditem