ArmInfo.Turkey is ready for a mass amnesty of imprisoned Kurdish politicians. According to the Russian Nezavisimaya Gazeta, this is part of a potential deal with Abdullah Ocalan, the leader and ideologist of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
A positive sign of progress in the negotiations was the second visit in a month by a delegation of Turkish MPs to the founder of the left-wing radical group. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan likely aims to resolve the long-standing conflict to gain support from the Kurdish electorate. However, experts warn that the lower echelons of the PKK may react to the peace process with terrorist attacks.
The general parameters of the deal between Ankara and Ocalan are close to being finalized, according to sources close to the negotiations, who spoke to the Washington-based publication Al-Monitor. They mentioned the visit this week by lawmakers from the DEM party, which represents Kurdish interests, to the island of Imrali in the Sea of Marmara where the founder of the PKK is currently being held. Al-Monitor's sources state that Ocalan was convinced to publicly urge his comrades to disarm. In return, Ankara pledged to release him and grant a mass amnesty to imprisoned Kurdish politicians. Among them is the well-known opposition figure Selahattin Demirtas, the leader of the Peoples' Democracy Party, which was once presented in the Turkish parliament. Al-Monitor's sources claim that Turkey has separately promised not to apply pressure on the Syrian Kurds who are fighting for their enclave. However, American expert Gonul Tol, citing other sources, reported that, on the contrary, the deal does not include a special status for northeastern Syria. Instead of autonomy, the units operating there will be offered to cooperate with a pro-Turkish influence group - the Kurdish National Council, created with the support of the President of Iraqi Kurdistan Masoud Barzani. As Tol noted in her microblog, the people's self-defense units will be forced to join the unified army of Syria one way or another. The Iraqi branches of the PKK allegedly agreed to this, the expert's sources claim.
According to Tol, the Kurds living in Turkey will receive significant concessions. Thus, Erdogan's entourage allegedly promised to amend the Constitution in a way that will enhance the position of this ethnic group in the country. Erdogan's critics claim that the Turkish is aiming to secure the support of the Kurdish voters through a peace deal with the PKK, a move seen as crucial ahead of the 2028 presidential elections. At a public event, Erdogan himself jokingly acknowledged his readiness to run for office again. His Justice and Development Party (AKP) allies say the issue will be a key focus on the domestic agenda in 2027.