Athens called on Ankara to clarify the reasons why the two Greek soldiers are still being held in Turkish custody. The soldiers were arrested on March 1st, when they accidentally crossed into Turkey and are being held in custody in high security prison in Edirne, without that the prosecutor has raised charges so far. “The foot-dragging of the Turkish authorities is undermining good neighborly relations, Government spokesman, Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said on Friday.
“The Turkish government must say why we have no knowledge of the charges for almost a month,” the government spokesman said.
On Thursday, a Turkish Misdemeanor court rejected the lawyers’ request for the soldiers’ release. In fact, the lawyers were asking the court to cancel a previous court ruling that had dismissed a release request.
The court ruled that they cannot be released because they have no permanent residence in the country and therefore they could leave Turkey.
The Greek Consulate in Edirne has repeatedly offered Turkish authorities that the two Greek soldiers remain in the consulate premises. The offer has been rejected so far. If Turkish authorities will insist on this argument, the two Greek soldiers will have to remain in prison until the trial.
What was interesting on Thursday was that the court ruled in unusual speed and thus just days after president Erdogan had linked the two Greek soldiers case with the one of the eight Turkish servicemen who fled to Greece after the failed coup of 2016 and for whom Ankara has already submitted three extradition requests. All of them rejected by the Greek Justice.
![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2018/03/30/greek-soldiers-athens/&media=https://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/greeksoldierspicts.jpg&description=Athens called on Ankara to clarify the reasons why the two Greek soldiers are still being held in Turkish custody. "The foot-dragging of the Turkish authorities is undermining){kind=link}