In a public message, Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned founder and ideological leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), expressed deep sorrow over the reported deaths of senior PKK figures Ali Haydar Kaytan and Riza Altun, calling them permanent guides in the Kurdish struggle.

“I learned of the martyrdom of Ali Haydar Kaytan and Riza Altun with great sadness,” Ocalan said, adding that he would make a more detailed assessment of their legacy at a later time.

Ocalan emphasized their enduring role in the PKK’s vision, stating that their contributions to the struggle for national existence and democratic communality remain foundational.

“They will also be the main inspirations for the paradigm of the new era and its institutions, and in this way they will fulfill their role forever,” he noted.

Ocalan said both figures would continue to “live in our struggle as permanent guides,” framing their legacy as essential to the PKK’s evolving political doctrine.

He concluded by saluting the decisions of the PKK’s historic 12th Congress, describing its messages as markers of a new phase:

“On this occasion, I respectfully salute the decisions taken at the historic 12th Congress and the messages for the new era.”

The message comes amid reports of major structural changes within the PKK, including the group’s declared move toward disarmament and a new political strategy, aligning with Ocalan’s long-standing calls for a peaceful resolution to the Kurdish issue.