Freed in Turkey Before Spy Trial, Greek Soldiers Await Flight Home

Angelos Mitretodis (L) and Dimitris Kouklatzis, two Greek soldiers who were detained in Turkey after crossing the border, are welcomed by their parents after being released, at the airport of Thessaloniki, Greece, August 15, 2018. Reuters/Alexandros Avramidis

ISTANBUL—Two Greek soldiers facing espionage charges in Turkey are due to fly home early on Aug. 15 after a provincial court released them, in a ruling Athens said would help to improve strained ties between the two NATO allies.

The soldiers crossed into Turkey in March, in what Greece said was an accident while they were following the trail of suspected illegal migrants.