Turkish soldiers in Greece face asylum interviews

By Mehmet Hatipoglu

ALEXANDROPOULOS, Greece (AA) – Eight Turkish military personnel who fled to Greece and sought asylum after a failed coup attempt are to be questioned over their applications on Tuesday.

Early on Tuesday morning, the eight men were taken from Feres Prison in the northern city of Alexandropoulos to an asylum center in the Nea Chili neighborhood. The soldiers could be seen handcuffed and tied to one another while entering the building’s back door to avoid waiting journalists.

The men are expected to be photographed and interviewed regarding their request for asylum before being taken back into custody.

According to Greek procedure, a request for political asylum should be completed in three weeks. A commission will decide the fate of the eight soldiers.

The pilot of the Turkish Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is charged with violating air traffic regulations; the seven other men are charged with being accomplices. Their trial is expected to now take place Thursday after a three-day delay announced on Monday.

The case of the eight personnel -- whose ranks have been identified as two majors, four captains and two master sergeants -- is being handled by three lawyers who are members of the Alexandropoulos Bar Association.

Eight Turkish soldiers were onboard a helicopter which landed in Alexandropoulos after an attempted coup in Turkey on Friday.

*Anadolu Agency correspondent Ahmet Sait Akcay contributed to the report from Ankara