PKK declares terrorist Öcalan 'chief negotiator'! 'Open the doors of İmralı'

Zagros Hiwa, spokesperson for the political wing of the PKK, told AFP that they expect the conditions of Abdullah Öcalan, who is imprisoned in İmralı Prison, to be improved and for him to be allowed "free and secure working conditions so that he can lead the process."

Hiwa announced that the PKK has declared Öcalan the "chief negotiator" for the peace talks to be held following the organization's decision to disband.

#BREAKING PKK urges Turkey to ease Ocalan's solitary confinement pic.twitter.com/TkbdTibydZ

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) May 20, 2025

DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan, 5 days after the statement by MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli—which was described as the 'speech that started the process' and which also brought up the 'right to hope' for Öcalan—recalled Öcalan's words on October 27, 2024, saying, "We say to the government: the chief negotiator of this issue is Mr. Öcalan. Open the doors of İmralı so that Mr. Öcalan's thoughts can meet the public."

KCK executive Remzi Kartal also said in a statement on October 23, "If there is to be a process, a process in which Abdullah Öcalan can absolutely take part as the chief negotiator can be considered. Everyone needs to approach it on this basis. Approaches other than this are games, setups, and traps. That is what it should be called."

The DEM Party İmralı delegation and Abdullah Öcalan have met 5 times since the process began. The last meeting took place on Sunday, May 18.

News Source: 12punto