Athens: Eight Turkish military officers who fled last week's failed coup to Greece were moved to Athens on today, a police source said, where authorities will examine their asylum pleas.
"They came to Athens this morning," the source said, without being able to confirm where the suspects are being held.
"I assume it's because their asylum cases will be examined here," the officer added.
They were allowed to land after sending a distress signal to authorities, and claim they will not receive a fair trial in Turkey.
On Thursday, the Alexandroupoli court handed them suspended two month prison sentences for illegally entering Greece.
In his defence, one of the Turkish officers told the court through a translator that he did not want to return home owing to "indiscriminate" arrests by Ankara authorities.
The eight had been in police custody in the city of Kavala until Friday.
Turkey's ambassador has warned that failure to return the officers "will not help" ties.
"They came to Athens this morning," the source said, without being able to confirm where the suspects are being held.
"I assume it's because their asylum cases will be examined here," the officer added.
They were allowed to land after sending a distress signal to authorities, and claim they will not receive a fair trial in Turkey.
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On Thursday, the Alexandroupoli court handed them suspended two month prison sentences for illegally entering Greece.
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In his defence, one of the Turkish officers told the court through a translator that he did not want to return home owing to "indiscriminate" arrests by Ankara authorities.
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The eight had been in police custody in the city of Kavala until Friday.
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Turkey's ambassador has warned that failure to return the officers "will not help" ties.
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