Story highlights Turkey responds with a critical statement

8 men flew to Greece after failed coup

Athens, Greece (CNN) Greece's Supreme Court ruled Thursday that eight servicemen who fled Turkey after an attempted coup last July will not be extradited -- a decision that brought an immediate protest from Turkey.

Turkey had demanded the men be returned to face charges of trying to overthrow the government. The men denied being involved in the coup and said their lives would be in danger if they were sent home.

European Union and Greek law forbid extradition to a country where an alleged offender would run the risk of not receiving a fair trial and where his or her life could be in danger.

Turkey's response

The government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which jailed thousands of people suspected in the wake of the failed coup, issued a statement on the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs website protesting the Greek court's decision.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

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