Turkey coup: Turkish military helicopter lands in Greece and crew requests asylum
A Turkish military helicopter has landed in northern Greece where its crew has requested political asylum.
Local reports suggest the crew are part of the faction of the Turkish military that attempted to overthrow President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government in a coup on Friday night.
Greece’s defence ministry has confirmed seven military personnel and one civilian landed in a Blackhawk military helicopter in Alexandroupoli and requested asylum.
Upon arrival the eight crew members were arrested for illegal entry to the country.
Mevlut Cavusoglu, the Turkish foreign minister, has demanded their return. Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency quotes the Turkish foreign minister as saying “we have demanded the immediate return of the eight treacherous officers who fled to Greece by helicopter”.
According to the source, the crew removed all badges and insignia from their uniforms making it impossible to know their rank. A defence expert told the paper it was the first time a Turkish military vehicle had landed in Greece seeking asylum in the country.
Another said it was highly unlikely the men would be granted asylum in Greece.
More than 161 people are dead and more than 1,000 wounded following the violent clashes in Turkey after a coup was launched to overthrow Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government. A total of 1,563 military personnel have been detained across the country after the Turkish government and military forces loyal to the president cracked down on the attempted coup. On Saturday morning, the government appeared to regain control, with troops surrendering as civilians took to the streets in support of the government.
Local reports suggest the crew are part of the faction of the Turkish military that attempted to overthrow President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government in a coup on Friday night.
Greece’s defence ministry has confirmed seven military personnel and one civilian landed in a Blackhawk military helicopter in Alexandroupoli and requested asylum.
Upon arrival the eight crew members were arrested for illegal entry to the country.
Mevlut Cavusoglu, the Turkish foreign minister, has demanded their return. Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency quotes the Turkish foreign minister as saying “we have demanded the immediate return of the eight treacherous officers who fled to Greece by helicopter”.
According to the source, the crew removed all badges and insignia from their uniforms making it impossible to know their rank. A defence expert told the paper it was the first time a Turkish military vehicle had landed in Greece seeking asylum in the country.
Another said it was highly unlikely the men would be granted asylum in Greece.
More than 161 people are dead and more than 1,000 wounded following the violent clashes in Turkey after a coup was launched to overthrow Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government. A total of 1,563 military personnel have been detained across the country after the Turkish government and military forces loyal to the president cracked down on the attempted coup. On Saturday morning, the government appeared to regain control, with troops surrendering as civilians took to the streets in support of the government.
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