Two Greek soldiers were arrested by units of Turkish army near the natural border of the two countries, the Evros river. The two Greeks, a lieutenant and a soldier commissioned for 5-years, were on patrol in Kastanies on Thursday (March 1st) morning.
The Greek Ministry of Defense said in a statement on Friday morning that the two soldiers on patrol lost their way due to heavy snowfall in the area of Kastanies and crossed into Turkish territory where they were intercept and arrested. They are in good health, the statement said adding “typical procedures are underway” for their return to Greece.
The ministry does not clarify when exactly they were intercepted. However, a Greek military affairs website notes that the incident took place Thursday noon.
The two were taken to the city of Edirne (Andrianopoulis), where they remain in custody in the Gendarme headquarters.
The Greek Defense ministry said it was in contact with Turkish authorities for the return of the soldiers to Greece. It is not clear whether the Greek consul in Edirne has contacted the two soldiers.
Greek media report that patrol units from both sides cross the natural borders by mistakes and that normally such incidents are solved within minutes between the military authorities of both countries.
The fact that the two Greek soldiers were transferred to Edirne cause concern, with the worst scenario to claim that Turkey might want to exchange the two Greeks with all or some of the 8 Turkish soldiers who fled to Greece after the failed coup of July 2016 and were granted asylum. Ankara has already submitted three requests for their extradition.
Militaire.gr claims that “the arrest was part of a Turkish plan to increase tension between the two countries” and that “Turkish patrol were in the area on purpose and had set an ambush.” Apparently citing sources from the Greek foreign Ministry, the website alleges that Turkey is preparing to try the two with charges for illegal entry” in the country.