Greek court sentences eight Turkish coup plotters to two months in prison

ALEXANDROUPOLIS

A Greek court has sentenced each of the eight Turkish officers who fled to Greece after the failed coup attempt of July 15 to two months in prison, on charges of illegally entering the country.

The eight, identified as two majors, four captains and two master sergeants, were being tried in the northern city of Alexandroupolis, where they arrived by military helicopter on July 16 after sending a distress signal to authorities.

According to one of their lawyers, Ilia Marinaki, the soldiers say they fear for their safety and the safety of their families after the failed attempt to topple Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as reported by Agence France-Presse.

To block their deportation to Turkey, they have applied for asylum in Greece.

Any action on their fate will likely have to wait until early August when asylum authorities are to decide on their applications.

The authorities in Ankara insist they will receive fair treatment at home.

Turkish Ambassador to Greece Kerim Uras has warned that the failure to return the officers “will not help” ties.

“I hope we will manage to swiftly go through the phases of due process and manage to return these terrorist elements so that they will face justice,” Uras told reporters in Athens on July 19.