Turkey rages after Greece grants asylum to helicopter co-pilot who escaped with officers after failed 2016 ‘coup’

The Turkish foreign ministry has slammed a decision in Greece to grant asylum to a Turkish helicopter co-pilot, who fled the country after last year’s failed coup, as “politically motivated” and warned of a negative impact on bilateral relations.

The co-pilot – who flew seven other Turkish military officers to Greece – was granted asylum after Greek authorities ruled that his human rights would be at risk, despite repeated requests for his extradition by Ankara.

The decision “once again reveals that Greece is a country that protects and embraces plotters,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement Saturday, adding that the ruling was “politically motivated”.

“Greece has not shown the support and cooperation we expect from an ally in the fight against terrorism,” the statement added, warning of an impact on bilateral relations between the two countries.

The ruling is an embarrassment to Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who asked for the officers to be extradited during a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in December, as part of the first official visit to Athens by a Turkish president in 65 years.

Late Saturday evening, Tsipras tried to contain any fallout from the asylum ruling by calling for the decision to be annulled.