A Greek appeals court on Friday rejected a Turkish demand for the handover of eight Turkish soldiers accused by Ankara of having played a direct role in the coup orchestrated by Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) in 2016.
It was the third extradition request Greek courts have refused, an issue which has further strained relations between the long uneasy NATO allies.
The fugitives fled to Greece in a helicopter on July 16, 2016, as the coup attempt crumbled. Turkey believes they are traitors and coup plotters.
In a unanimous decision, the Athens-based Court of Appeal rejected Turkey's extradition request, filed on the basis of eight charges the soldiers face in their country. The decision can be appealed.
Those charges included involvement in the coup, attempted murder, participation in an armed terrorist group, military desertion and theft of military material.
FETÖ terrorists are led by U.S.-based Fetullah Gülen, who orchestrated Turkey's July 15 coup attempt and is the mastermind behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.
