The extradition request of Turkiye for 8 troops who fled to Greece after July 15, 2016, coup attempt, was rejected for the 3^rd time by the Athens Court of Appeal.

The court reasoned decision; said eight soldiers were not given any assurance that they will fair trial in Turkiye, the signs that they were subjected to torture also noted in the decision.

The Court of Appeal does not have the trial process for the suspects if have any crime in Turkiye, which has no authority in this matter and it was stated that they only viewed the extradition request of Turkiye.

Greece Ministry of Justice has proposed before for the 8 fugitive soldiers to be tried on the criminal coup attempt that took place in Turkiye, but Ankara did not take this proposal kindly.

Meanwhile, the right of political asylum that 8 fugitive deserters demanded from Greece had been suspended as a result of repression of the Greek government. It is expected that the coup d'état's decision on the appeal of asylum will be issued on 4^th of May.

Fugitive soldiers, who hijacked a military helicopter to flee into Greece shortly after the coup bid, have been detained in a police station in Athens since July 16, 2016.

ILKHA