Greek Asylum Service Approves Second Turkish Soldier's Plea

Reports on Tuesday are claiming that a second former Turkish soldier seeking asylum in Greece has had his application accepted.
The Greek Asylum Committee reportedly approved the application after deliberations last Friday in Greece’s Council of State.
Tuesday’s decision would make him the second of the eight former Turkish military personnel to be granted asylum in Greece. The first soldier, Suleyman Ozkaynakci, had been released from custody after being granted asylum but was re-arrested following a Greek government objection.
The eight men fled Turkey in a helicopter on the night of July 15, 2016, when the country was gripped by a coup attempt to oust President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
They are also approaching the end of an 18-month maximum detention period for asylum seekers. Justice Minister Stavros Kontonis in April predicted the men would be freed from detention in May.
Kontonis said that Turkey has not requested their trial in Greece, therefore, “following the expiration of 18 months, which is coming up in May, there is no provision of extending their detention.”
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim last month said Greece was being seen as a “safe haven” for those who had tried to overthrow the government in Ankara.