Greek court OKs extradition of Turkish citizen who awaits asylum appeal

 Greece’s Council of State has ruled in favour of extraditing a Turkish businessman, legal sources told Reuters on Wednesday, who is wanted by Ankara to serve a prison sentence for crimes including manslaughter, attempted robbery and gun possession.

Despite the top administrative court’s ruling, Ali Yesildag’s extradition is pending as he awaits a final decision on an asylum request made in September in Greece, arguing his life would be in danger in Turkey due to his conflict with Erdogan.

The 54-year-old man, a former ally of President Tayyip Erdogan, was arrested last year in a town near the Greek-Turkish border of Evros. Turkey requested his extradition as he was sought on an Interpol notice for crimes he was convicted of in 1986 by Turkish courts, Greek police officials have said.

Yesildag, who has said his family and Erdogan’s have had close ties for decades, drew backlash from Ankara last year when he accused Erdogan and his family of corruption and bribery in a YouTube video.

Yesildag has said he has fallen out with his own family and the Turkish president over the past decade.

According to court documents seen by Reuters, he says he has served part of the prison sentences imposed on him and has been granted amnesty for the rest.

Earlier this year, Greece’s supreme court and a justice minister ruled in favour of his extradition to Turkey. Yesildag had appealed against that decision to the Council of State.

The European Court of Human Rights has ordered a suspension of his extradition until Aug. 23, one of the sources said, adding his case would be reexamined.

“Yesildag’s extradition to Turkey would put his physical integrity and life at risk,” said Thanassis Kampagiannis, one of his defense lawyers.