Ten years after the failed coup attempt of July 2016 in Turkey, Marinos Aliferis and Giannis Charamidis explore the unknown continuation of a case that tested Greek-Turkish relations, through the lives of the eight Turkish officers who arrived by helicopter in Alexandroupoli just hours after the crisis erupted.

Panos Kammenos, then Minister of National Defence, Dimitris Vitsas, then Alternate Minister, Apostolos Doxiadis, Christos Mylonopoulos and Miranda Xafa speak to Medusa about the arrival of the helicopter, the legal battles and the years of isolation and imprisonment endured by the eight. “From May, the Hellenic National Defence General Staff had informed the political and military leadership that there was a possibility of a coup in Turkey,” Panos Kammenos reveals.

The episode brings to light unpublished photographs from the places where they lived, drawings of their children’s faces on the walls, a poem and videos of their reunions with their families after crossing the Evros River. It also reveals the ten-day stay of one of the eight at Miranda Xafa’s flat, close to the Turkish embassy. A song featuring the voices of the men themselves accompanies the account until their departure from Greece and their search for safety in other countries.

The episode features:

Panos Kammenos — The warning before the coup attempt

“From May, the Hellenic National Defence General Staff had informed the political and military leadership that there was a possibility of a coup in Turkey. We were on alert.”

Dimitris Vitsas — The first reaction to the arrival of the eight

“What we thought was that it might be a provocation, but it was an asylum request.”

Apostolos Doxiadis — The immediate connection with the eight

“I felt like the angel of death and I hugged them as I was leaving and told them, ‘I will help you.’”

Christos Mylonopoulos — The fear of abduction

“They were afraid they might be abducted. They hid in various places.”

Miranda Xafa — Hosting one of them just a stone’s throw from the Turkish embassy

“They were afraid they might get as far as here. The Turkish Embassy is next door. He did not even want to go out onto the balcony.”