The terrorist organization PKK shared with the public the results of its 5th Extraordinary Congress held in the region it calls “Media Defense Zones” between May 7-2025, 12. The first statement made on May 9 stated that “historical decisions were made based on the call of Abdullah Öcalan” and that the final declaration would be announced soon. The expected statement was published on the Fırat News Agency (ANF), declaring that the organization had dissolved its organizational structure and ended its armed struggle method.
Extraordinary Congress Held in Challenging Conditions
The final declaration published by the PKK stated that the congress was held simultaneously in two different areas for security reasons under difficult conditions where clashes continued, air and ground attacks continued, the siege on areas under the organization's control continued and the embargo imposed by the KDP continued. It was stated that the 232th PKK Congress, which was held with the participation of a total of 12 delegates, discussed in depth critical issues such as Abdullah Öcalan's leadership, the organization's martyrs and veterans, the PKK's organizational existence and armed struggle method, and the construction of a democratic society. It was emphasized that historic decisions were made as a result of the congress, marking the beginning of a new era for the PKK.
“PKK Completed Its Historical Mission” Assessment
The most striking part of the declaration included the following statements: “The PKK’s Extraordinary 12th Congress assessed that the PKK struggle had shattered the policy of denial and annihilation over our people, brought the Kurdish issue to a point of solving it through democratic politics, and in this respect, completed the PKK’s historical mission.” This assessment was interpreted as the organization having achieved its goal in the armed struggle it had been carrying out for many years and that it was time to move on to a new stage.
Organizational Structure Dissolved, Armed Struggle Ended
Following this historical assessment, the radical decisions taken by the organization were explained in the declaration: “On this basis, the 12th Congress of the PKK decided to dissolve the organizational structure of the PKK and to end the armed struggle method, with the practical process to be managed and carried out by Leader APO, thus ending the work carried out under the name of the PKK.” This decision means that the PKK has abandoned the armed struggle strategy it has adopted for many years and has abolished its organizational structure.
Call to Society and Political Actors
Following this historic decision, the declaration made important appeals to the public and various political actors. It was stated that “We have full faith that our people will understand the decision to dissolve the PKK and end the armed struggle method better than anyone else, and that they will embrace the duties of the democratic struggle period on the basis of building a democratic society” and asked the Kurdish people to support this new process and embrace the democratic struggle.
In addition, they called on the Kurdish political movement to take an active role in the democratic solution process, stating, “On this basis, we believe that Kurdish political parties, democratic organizations and opinion leaders will fulfill their responsibilities in developing Kurdish democracy and ensuring the formation of a Kurdish democratic nation.”
Emphasis on Democratic Political Method
The declaration emphasized that the democratic political method would become even stronger with the end of the armed struggle period: “The legacy of our history of freedom, which passed through struggle and resistance, will develop more strongly with the democratic political method together with the decisions of the 12th Congress of the PKK, and the future of our people will develop on the basis of freedom and equality.” It was stated that different segments such as poor and working people, all belief groups, women and youth will develop a common life in a democratic and fair environment by defending their rights in the peace and democratic society process.
Call for Historical Role to the Turkish Grand National Assembly
The congress declaration stated that the decisions taken provided a strong foundation for permanent peace and a democratic solution, and drew attention to the historical role of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) in this process: “The implementation of the decisions in question requires Leader Apo to lead and direct the process, the recognition of the right to democratic politics and a solid and complete legal guarantee. At this stage, it is important for the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye to play its role with historical responsibility.”
Likewise, the government called on all political parties represented in the parliament, especially the main opposition party, civil society organizations, religious and belief communities, democratic press organizations, opinion leaders, intellectuals, academics, artists, labor unions, women's and youth organizations and ecological movements to participate in the peace and democratic society process.
Call to International Powers to Support Democratic Solution
The declaration called on Türkiye's left-socialist forces to embrace the peace and democratic society process, and stated that the struggle of the people, women and the oppressed would reach a new level. In addition, a call was made to international powers, saying, "We invite international powers to see their responsibilities in the century-long genocidal policies carried out against our people and not to hinder the democratic solution and to make constructive contributions to the process."
Congress Dedicated to Martyrs
In the decisions taken by the 12th Congress of the PKK, the martyrdom of Fuat-Ali Haydar Kaytan, one of the leading cadres of the organization who was martyred on July 3, 2018, and Rıza Altun, who was martyred on September 25, 2019, was finally declared. The Congress accepted Fuat-Ali Haydar Kaytan, one of the founding leaders of the PKK, as the symbol of “Loyalty to the Leadership, Truth and Holy Life” and Rıza Altun, one of the first companions of Abdullah Öcalan, as the symbol of “Comradeship of Freedom”. The historic 12th Party Congress was attributed to these two important martyrs, the promise of success to all martyrs of the struggle was reiterated and the claim of realizing the dreams of Sırrı Süreyya Önder, the martyr of peace and democracy, was stated.
Road to Process: Major Developments
Some important developments in recent times were influential in the PKK’s decision to make this historic decision. MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli’s call to Abdullah Öcalan to dissolve the organization in October 2024 and the subsequent permission given to Ömer Öcalan to meet with his uncle were important in terms of establishing the first contact with İmralı after a long break. It was noteworthy that Abdullah Öcalan’s first message during this meeting was that he had the power to pull the process from a ground of conflict and violence to a legal and political ground if the conditions were right.
In December 2024 and January 2025, DEM Party deputies and local administrators met with Abdullah Öcalan in İmralı and shared their messages with the public. Öcalan’s “Call for Peace and Democratic Society” on February 27, calling on all groups to lay down their arms and the PKK to dissolve itself, was a turning point in the process. Following this call, the PKK declared a ceasefire on March 1, increasing hopes for peace and a solution.
The İmralı delegation’s visit to political parties and its meeting with President Erdoğan in Beştepe on April 10 showed that the process also found support on the political ground. The DEM Party delegation’s meetings with the Minister of Justice and the reunion with Abdullah Öcalan in İmralı showed that the search for a solution was ongoing. However, the death of Sırrı Süreyya Önder, who was in the İmralı delegation, on May 3 was considered a loss in the peace process.
AKP SözcüThe statements made by the PKK’s Chief of Staff Ömer Çelik and President Erdoğan, regarding the fact that they expect the process of the PKK laying down arms and dissolving itself to become concrete soon, created great expectations in the public opinion prior to the PKK’s congress decisions. The uncertainty that began with the PKK’s announcement on May 9 that the congress was held and historic decisions were made, ended with the final declaration announced on May 12, and it was officially announced that the organization had dissolved its organizational structure and ended the armed struggle. This historic decision is considered the beginning of a new era in the solution of Türkiye’s Kurdish problem.
