PKK Warns New Law Will Be Impossible to Implement Without Leader’s Direct Role

The group managing the PKK’s dissolution process has warned that a planned Turkish law on the matter will fail in practice unless the organization’s imprisoned leader, Abdullah Öcalan, personally oversees its implementation. In a statement, the “Movement Management” body—created after the PKK’s decision to dissolve—said: “Without Rêber Apo [Leader Apo] directly managing the process, it is not possible to carry out the requirements of the decisions taken or the law that will be enacted.” The warning comes as Ankara prepares to introduce a legal framework to formalize the PKK’s disarmament and closure. The group’s statement suggests that any law passed without Öcalan’s active involvement would create a situation that blocks its own application. Analysts say the remark signals potential friction between the PKK’s internal leadership and Turkish authorities over who controls the next steps. The Turkish government has not yet responded to the statement.