Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu | Win McNamee/Getty Images Greece charges 8 Turkish officers with illegally entering country Ankara says they fled in a Black Hawk helicopter because the military coup failed.

Eight Turkish soldiers, who allegedly supported the coup against the government and fled to Greece by helicopter after it failed, were charged by Athens with illegally entering the country, according to Turkish media.

Greek prosecutors said the eight men will remain in prison while they await trial. Their lawyer said one of the charges against her clients, of “damaging friendly relations between Turkey and Greece,” had been dropped. She also said they were unaware of the attempted coup and were flying out of Turkey in a Black Hawk helicopter because they were being fired upon.

The men, who were reported to be dressed in civilian clothes when they landed, have applied for political asylum in Greece.

On Saturday, Turkey asked Greece to send back the soldiers, the highest ranking of whom is a colonel, according to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.

The Black Hawk helicopter was returned to Turkey on Saturday, according to a report by Turkish state-run Anadolu news agency.

The Istanbul chief prosecutor's office has launched an investigation into the officers' flight on Sunday, suspecting them of committing treason.