Ruling on Turkish officers due soon
The Supreme Court is expected to decide in the next few days, possibly before the end of the week, whether eight Turkish military officers who landed their helicopter in Alexandroupoli hours after an attempted coup in their homeland should be extradited.
The Council of Appeals Court Judges ruled recently that five of the eight should not be returned to Turkey because of concerns that their lives could be in danger. However, in the case of three of the soldiers, judges decided they should be extradited. The rulings were arrived at during three sessions, each with a different lineup of judges.
The three officers facing a return to Turkey appealed the decision, while the head of the Appeals Court prosecutor’s office, Antonis Liagos, appealed against the council’s decision to reject the extradition of the five other soldiers. After the Supreme Court issues its verdict, Greece’s justice minister can have a final say in the matter.
