The defense team of the two Greek soldiers held in a Turkish jail since March 2 after accidentally crossing into the country’s territory have launched another appeal for their release.
Handcuffed Sgt. Dimitris Kouklatzis, 27, and Lt. Angelos Mitretodis, 25, were led under tight security to the court in the town of Edirne (Adrianopolis).
This is the fourth appeal launched for their release until they are charged and a trial is set.
All previous three appeals have been rejected on the grounds that they do not have a permanent residence in Turkey and therefore are considered a flight risk.
Relations between Athens and Ankara have been sorely tested over the issue, which Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has explicitly linked to that of eight former Turkish soldiers seeking asylum in Greece following the 2016 coup attempt.
Greece’s Deputy Defense Minister Fotis Kouvelis said recently that the two servicemen’s imprisonment is part of an “unacceptable nationalist tactic” employed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the run-up to the country’s elections which take place on Sunday.
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