Eight coup plotter soldiers who fled to Greece and sought asylum after the failed coup attempt in Turkey on July 15 have applied for asylum in three other European countries, reported Hurriyet Daily News on Monday. In an interview with Athens’ Asylum Commission, the first three soldiers said they had verbally sought asylum in France, Spain and Belgium in order to avoid extradition to Turkey.
The soldiers added they would also make a written application in the upcoming days.
Stavroula Tomara, one of the lawyers for the soldiers, said the asylum applications to the three other countries had been based on the 12th Article of the Dublin III Regulation, which allows a person to seek asylum in countries in which they had previously legally resided.
Tomara noted the soldiers previously held offices in various European countries.
The Asylum Commission’s interview process with the soldiers is expected to be completed by mid-September. They have the right to appeal unless the commission approves the application.
Two majors, four captains and two non-commissioned officers had escaped to Alexandroupoli, Greece near the Turkish border by a military helicopter, one day after the failed coup attempt.
They had requested asylum in the country with Ankara asking for their immediate extradition on suspicion of involvement in the coup attempt.
In late July, a local court sentenced the eight soldiers to suspended two-month prison terms on charges of illegally entering the country.
The hearing of the asylum claim of the first of the eight soldiers had begun on August 19.