On Saturday, March 1, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) announced a ceasefire with Turkey. This came after a call from Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, who has been imprisoned in Turkey since 1999, urging the PKK to lay down arms and dissolve itself. This was reported by the Ukrainian service of Voice of America, citing the Firat news agency.
“We announce a ceasefire today to pave the way for the realization of Leader Apo's (referring to Abdullah Öcalan) call for peace and a democratic society. None of our forces will engage in armed actions unless attacked,” stated the PKK's announcement.
The party expressed its expectation for Turkey to release 75-year-old Abdullah Öcalan, who could lead the disarmament process of the rebels. The statement also emphasized the need to create political and democratic conditions for the success of the peace process.
Additionally, Öcalan's supporters demanded improvements in the conditions of their leader's detention and the opportunity for him to “live and work in physical freedom and have the ability to establish unhindered relationships with anyone, including his friends.”
The Conflict Between the PKK and Turkey
The Kurdistan Workers' Party was founded by Abdullah Öcalan in 1978. He advocated for armed resistance, demanding autonomy for Turkish Kurds, who make up about 20% of Turkey's 85 million population. It is worth noting that Kurdistan encompasses Kurdish-populated areas in Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Iran.
The conflict between Turkey and the terrorist PKK began in 1984 and has resulted in the deaths of 40,000 people.
75-year-old Abdullah Öcalan has been serving a sentence for treason on Imralı Island near Istanbul since 1999. Despite this, he continues to exert significant influence over PKK militants.
In October 2024, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's coalition partner Devlet Bahçeli suggested that Öcalan could be granted parole if the PKK renounces violence and disbands.
On February 28, Erdoğan stated that Öcalan's appeal represents a “historic opportunity,” adding that Turkey would “carefully monitor” the negotiations to ensure that the insurgency's cessation is “successfully concluded.”