Greece’s Supreme Court has postponed a final decision on whether or not to extradite eight Turkish soliders who fled to the country in July.<br /><br /> Initially expected on Monday (January 23), the verdict will now be delivered on Thursday after one of the judges presiding the case reportedly fell ill.<br /><br /> The crewmen fled their home country in a Turkish military<br />helicopter after last year’s failed military coup attempt in Ankara.<br /><br /> They are seeking asylum in Greece on claims their lives are in danger and they would not receive a fair trial if returned home.<br /><br /> The soldiers deny any involvement in the attempt to overthrow Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.<br /><br /> However, Ankara has branded the group traitors and has demanded their extradition.<br /><br /> A ruling against their extradition would be considered final and could not be challenged. The soldiers will then await decisions on their asylum applications. This could take months. <br /><br /> However, if the Supreme Court upholds Turkey’s request, it will be down to Greek Justice Minister Nikos Paraskevopoulos to decide the next move.<br /><br /> Greece is in a delicate position between not wanting to stoke tensions with its neighbouring country while also taking into consideration concerns over alleged human rights abuses in Turkey.<br /><br /> Final appeal<br /><br /> On January 10, a prosecutor at Greece’s Supreme Court recommended rejecting an extradition request for two of the soldiers.<br /><br /> Hearings for the remaining six took place over the following days.<br /><br /> An appeals court prosecutor initially challenged a ruling made after previous lower court hearings, which stated that five of the crewmen should not be extradited.<br /><br /> A lower court found the other three should be removed from Greece. They have appealed the decision.<br />
