Kurdistan24 Unveils Identities of Individuals Present During Ocalan’s Video Message
PKK's Ocalan breaks 26-year silence in video with 3 aides: Yildirim, Khairi & Aktash (Imrali Secretariat). Calls for peace, rejects conditional freedom. Analyst reveals aides' PKK ties & prison roles. Historic moment for Turkey-Kurdish dialogue.
By Ahora Qadi
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Following the unprecedented release of a video message from Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), public attention turned swiftly to the six individuals who appeared alongside him. The presence of these figures triggered widespread speculation. based on insights from Yusuf Mahmoud, an analyst at the Kurdistan24 Institute, specializing in Turkish and Kurdish affairs. revealed key information about these individuals.
According to Yusuf Mahmoud, the men who appeared in the video are Hilmi Yildirim, Omer Khairi, and Veysi Aktash—three figures long associated with the PKK and known to have been imprisoned in Imrali since 2015 as part of the so-called "Imrali Secretariat."
Hilmi Yildirim, a senior PKK cadre, reportedly joined the organization at the time of its establishment. He was arrested in Syria in 2004 and subsequently handed over to Turkish authorities.
Omer Khairi, who became affiliated with the PKK in 1985, also spent many years in the ranks before his arrest in Syria in 2004 and extradition to Turkey.
Veysi Aktash, active in the PKK since 1994, has completed his prison sentence but remains behind bars and is expected to be released soon.
Yusuf Mahmoud explained that all three men have served as Ocalan’s close companions within the prison, particularly since 2015, following the previous rotation of secretarial roles. Despite completing his sentence, Aktash’s continued detention remains unexplained.
Strategic Proximity to Ocalan
Yusuf emphasized that Hilmi Yildirim, among the most prominent of the trio, had been one of the closest individuals to Ocalan, and a high-ranking position within the PKK and having returned to its structure after multiple arrests. His proximity to the imprisoned leader underscores the symbolic weight of his presence in the video.
Regarding Ocalan’s health, the Kurdistan24 analyst noted that according to old health reports, the PKK leader has publicly acknowledged suffering from health issues, likely related to age.
Message of Peace and Responsibility
On Wednesday, Ocalan released a video message for the first time in 26 years. In it, he called for peace and national dialogue, emphasizing a moral responsibility to provide answers to the current political dilemmas.
“I reaffirm my historical call of Feb. 27, 2025, for peace and democracy,” Ocalan said in the message. “The current moment must be treated as a historic and honorable outcome. The sacrifices of comrades who built these bridges of struggle deserve our full respect.”
He also highlighted that all changes and proposals stem from the deliberations held in Imrali, stating: “All these developments are the direct result of what has been discussed inside Imrali. These meetings were conducted with utmost discipline and based on the principle of free will.”
Rejecting Conditional Freedom
Ocalan’s video also emphasized his longstanding objection to the conditionality of his release or communication rights. According to Yusuf Mahmoud, Ocalan continues to reject the idea that freedom of communication with the outside world should be used as leverage, asserting that such conditions are incompatible with genuine peace.
This latest development, and the release of the video message, mark a critical turning point in Turkey’s Kurdish question, placing renewed attention on Ocalan’s role in any potential reconciliation process—and the symbolic significance of those who stand by his side.
