Turkey rejects request for release of 2 Greek soldiers

June 2018

Turkish authorities, last week, rejected yet another request from Greece for the release of the two Greek soldiers who have been jailed in Edirne since their abduction on the Greek Turkish border on March 1.

This was the third official request for the release of Aggelos Mitretodis and Dimitris Kouklatzis, as Turkey has not pressed any specific charges against them.

The Turkish court hearing of the Greek request lasted one and a half hours, but the decision did not favor the two servicemen.

Mitretodis and Kouklatzis were captured by Turkish soldiers when they accidentally crossed the border to the Turkish side, due to heavy snowfall in the Kastanies area.

The Turkish court decision was taken on the grounds that the two Greek servicemen are considered to be suspects and have not declared a place of residence in Turkey, therefore they might flee if they are set free before charges are pressed against them.

In the meantime, the Greek High Court decided to grant refugee status to two of the eight former
Turkish soldiers who fled Turkey in order to avoid persecution. Ankara, wants to see the men returned to Turkey to be prosecuted for alleged involvement "in the killing of innocent people and for targeting an elected president".

However, Greece’s top court has already ruled that the men would not receive a fair trial, or could face mistreatment, if they are sent back. The Greek Tribune understands that Ankara wants to exchange of the two Greek soldiers they abducted with the eight Turkish soldiers so they can send them to the firing squad.