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Turkish anger as Greece rejects extradition of eight soldiers | Turkish anger as Greece rejects extradition of eight soldiers |
(35 minutes later) | |
Turkey has reacted with anger after a Greek court ruled against extraditing eight Turkish soldiers accused of involvement in an attempted coup. | Turkey has reacted with anger after a Greek court ruled against extraditing eight Turkish soldiers accused of involvement in an attempted coup. |
Turkey accused Greece of failing in the "fight against terrorism" and said the decision was "politically motivated". | Turkey accused Greece of failing in the "fight against terrorism" and said the decision was "politically motivated". |
The eight men fled in a helicopter to Greece after last July's coup attempt but say they were not involved. | The eight men fled in a helicopter to Greece after last July's coup attempt but say they were not involved. |
Presiding judge Giorgos Sakkas said the men were unlikely to receive a fair trial in Turkey. | Presiding judge Giorgos Sakkas said the men were unlikely to receive a fair trial in Turkey. |
Turkey has demanded the three majors, three captains and two sergeant majors return to stand trial. The soldiers have argued their lives would be in danger. | Turkey has demanded the three majors, three captains and two sergeant majors return to stand trial. The soldiers have argued their lives would be in danger. |
They are accused of playing a significant part in the coup attempt on 15 July 2016, and of having links with a group which allegedly tried to assassinate President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the night of the attempted coup. | They are accused of playing a significant part in the coup attempt on 15 July 2016, and of having links with a group which allegedly tried to assassinate President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the night of the attempted coup. |
"We protest this decision which prevents these individuals who have threatened the life of our president and took an active role in a coup attempt that killed 248 of our citizens... from appearing in front of Turkish judiciary," Turkey's foreign ministry said in a statement. | "We protest this decision which prevents these individuals who have threatened the life of our president and took an active role in a coup attempt that killed 248 of our citizens... from appearing in front of Turkish judiciary," Turkey's foreign ministry said in a statement. |
In retaliation to the Greek Supreme Court's ruling, an Istanbul court has approved a request from prosecutors for an arrest warrant for the eight soldiers. | In retaliation to the Greek Supreme Court's ruling, an Istanbul court has approved a request from prosecutors for an arrest warrant for the eight soldiers. |
A turn for the worse: Analysis by the BBC's Selin Girit in Istanbul | A turn for the worse: Analysis by the BBC's Selin Girit in Istanbul |
Turkish-Greek relations have gone through very difficult phases in the past, but the general understanding was that those days were over. Now, relations between the two countries risk a dramatic turn for the worse. | Turkish-Greek relations have gone through very difficult phases in the past, but the general understanding was that those days were over. Now, relations between the two countries risk a dramatic turn for the worse. |
Ankara's heavy-handed response in contesting the Greek Supreme Court's ruling with the issuing of an arrest warrant is a clear accusation to Athens of a failure to co-operate in the arrests of Kurdish or ultra-leftist militants in the past - a general understanding shared by nationalists in Turkey. | Ankara's heavy-handed response in contesting the Greek Supreme Court's ruling with the issuing of an arrest warrant is a clear accusation to Athens of a failure to co-operate in the arrests of Kurdish or ultra-leftist militants in the past - a general understanding shared by nationalists in Turkey. |
The extradition bid had become a source of tension between Ankara and Athens in the last few months. Several closed-door meetings reportedly took place between the two countries' foreign ministry officials but no solution could be reached. | The extradition bid had become a source of tension between Ankara and Athens in the last few months. Several closed-door meetings reportedly took place between the two countries' foreign ministry officials but no solution could be reached. |
The case has presented a diplomatic dilemma for Greece and created new tensions between the two Nato allies. They have a complex relationship and are currently working together to help negotiate a peace deal in divided Cyprus. | The case has presented a diplomatic dilemma for Greece and created new tensions between the two Nato allies. They have a complex relationship and are currently working together to help negotiate a peace deal in divided Cyprus. |
Greek Justice Minister Stavros Kontonis said before the verdict that he would respect the decision and not intervene. | Greek Justice Minister Stavros Kontonis said before the verdict that he would respect the decision and not intervene. |
The eight soldiers in Greece have said that their relatives in Turkey have lost jobs and had their passports confiscated since they fled. | The eight soldiers in Greece have said that their relatives in Turkey have lost jobs and had their passports confiscated since they fled. |
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In the wake of the coup attempt, tens of thousands of people from every level of Turkish society have been purged from their jobs, including military officers, government officials and schoolteachers. | In the wake of the coup attempt, tens of thousands of people from every level of Turkish society have been purged from their jobs, including military officers, government officials and schoolteachers. |
Critics of Mr Erdogan say he has used the failed uprising as a way of removing his opponents and tightening his hold on power. | |
The Turkish government says that it has taken legitimate action to root out "terrorist" groups that had infiltrated the state. | The Turkish government says that it has taken legitimate action to root out "terrorist" groups that had infiltrated the state. |
It blamed US-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, who leads a mass movement in Turkey, for the bloody coup attempt. He denies any involvement. | It blamed US-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, who leads a mass movement in Turkey, for the bloody coup attempt. He denies any involvement. |
Soon after the soldiers arrived in Greece, they were given two-month suspended prison sentences for illegally entering the country. | Soon after the soldiers arrived in Greece, they were given two-month suspended prison sentences for illegally entering the country. |
'A scandal' - Turkish media respond to the ruling, by Pinar Sevinclidir, BBC Monitoring | 'A scandal' - Turkish media respond to the ruling, by Pinar Sevinclidir, BBC Monitoring |
Pro-government news outlets have branded the decision "a scandal" and accused Greece of "protecting the coup soldiers". | Pro-government news outlets have branded the decision "a scandal" and accused Greece of "protecting the coup soldiers". |
Yeni Safak daily said Greece was taking the plotters under its wing and Aksam newspaper called the ruling "a historical disgrace" | Yeni Safak daily said Greece was taking the plotters under its wing and Aksam newspaper called the ruling "a historical disgrace" |
A Haber TV report hinted at a diplomatic crisis, saying "the relationship between Turkey and Greece will change after this decision". | A Haber TV report hinted at a diplomatic crisis, saying "the relationship between Turkey and Greece will change after this decision". |