Politics
No amnesty planned after PKK disbandment: Türkiye
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said Türkiye is not considering a general amnesty for terrorism convicts following the PKK’s dissolution, stressing that any legal steps under the country’s “terror-free Türkiye” initiative will not amount to impunity.
In remarks to Hürriyet released Friday, Gürlek said potential legislative changes linked to the new phase of the initiative would be shaped by Parliament and carried out transparently, in line with the rule of law and public sensitivities.
The comments come as a parliamentary commission approved a report setting out a road map for legal reforms alongside the disbandment of the PKK terror group. The commission voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to approve the report, advancing the terror-free process designed to end decades of PKK terrorism.
“Let me be clear: Any possible regulation will not turn into a general amnesty,” Gürlek said. “Such measures will not mean a lack of punishment. The scope will be determined by the Turkish Parliament.”
The PKK, designated a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the U.S. and the EU, halted attacks last year and said in May it had decided to dissolve itself in response to a February 2025 call by its imprisoned ringleader, Abdullah Öcalan, to end its decades-long attacks.
The parliamentary vote shifts the process to the legislative theater as Ankara advances efforts to end PKK terrorism that began in 1984 and killed more than 40,000 people, sowing discord at home and spreading violence across borders into Iraq and Syria.
No ‘right to hope’
A prominent issue in the process has been legislation concerning the integration of former PKK members into society.
Under current Turkish law, most prison sentences allow conditional release after a set period. However, Gürlek noted that different rules apply to terrorism-related convictions, particularly aggravated life sentences.
Those whose death sentences were previously commuted to aggravated life imprisonment, or who were convicted of terrorism and received the same penalty, are not eligible for conditional release under existing legislation.
“There is currently no such thing as a ‘right to hope’ for these cases in our legal system,” Gürlek said, referring to discussions about whether long-term prisoners should have a possibility of release after decades, namely Öcalan.
Ankara has repeatedly ruled out any “right to hope” for Öcalan or other terrorists as “nonnegotiable” and incompatible with the objective of a terror-free Türkiye.
Any change on that issue, Gürlek added, would be at the discretion of lawmakers and would be designed around societal needs rather than individual cases.
Officials have repeatedly emphasized that the terror-free Türkiye initiative is intended to eliminate the security threat while preserving justice for victims and preventing any perception of blanket forgiveness for violent crimes.
Broader road map
Government officials say the initiative builds on years of counterterrorism operations that significantly weakened the PKK’s operational capacity inside Türkiye and across its borders.
Parliamentary work has also focused on legal and institutional preparations for the post-disbandment phase, including frameworks for disarmament monitoring, preventing recruitment and ensuring that any transition process does not undermine public security.
Authorities describe the approach as balancing reconciliation opportunities with strict legal accountability, aiming to prevent the re-emergence of terrorist structures while supporting long-term social stability.
While discussions continue on issues such as long-term sentencing frameworks and prison regulations, Gürlek reiterated that the guiding principle will remain accountability.
“This is not about individuals,” he said. “Any step must be shaped by society’s needs and by the goal of ensuring that the process does not suffer harm.”
Officials say further legislative proposals tied to the terror-free Türkiye road map are expected to be debated in Parliament in the coming months.
Lawyer access in terror cases
Gürlek also outlined a separate legal proposal that would allow courts to restrict lawyer-client meetings in prisons in terrorism and organized crime cases under specific conditions.
“No right is unlimited,” he said. If a concrete and serious security risk emerges, such as evidence that meetings are being used to transmit organizational instructions or destroy evidence, courts could impose temporary procedural measures based on judicial decisions.
He said the aim was not to eliminate the right to defense but to prevent abuse.
“While detainees benefit from the presumption of innocence, the legal system cannot ignore situations where lawyer contacts become part of an organizational chain,” Gürlek said.
According to the minister, any restriction would require a judge’s order and concrete findings, and would be limited in duration. He noted that rulings by the European Court of Human Rights recognize that narrowly tailored restrictions in terrorism cases can be lawful when supported by evidence.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin as Russia’s new ambassador to Türkiye, according to presidential decrees published Friday.
Vershinin’s dismissal as deputy foreign minister and his subsequent appointment as Russian ambassador was made official by presidential decrees posted on the Russian government portal.
His appointment comes five months after former ambassador to Türkiye Alexey Yerkhov was made ambassador to Tashkent by presidential decree on Sept. 5. Russia’s diplomatic mission in Ankara had been led by acting Charge d’Affaires Alexey Ivanov.
In a separate decree, Putin appointed Russia’s ambassador to Egypt, Georgy Borisenko deputy foreign minister.
Born in 1954, Vershinin graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations in 1976 and from the Foreign Ministry’s diplomatic academy in 1991.
He held various positions in Russian diplomatic missions in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, serving as ambassador to Algeria from 1999 to 2003.
Since 2004, he held various positions within the Foreign Ministry, while also serving as deputy foreign minister from 2018 until his recent appointment.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday called for greater global and domestic action to address climate change and environmental degradation, highlighting Türkiye’s investments in renewable energy, large-scale afforestation and waste reduction.
Speaking at the launch event of the Cemre Foundation in Istanbul, Erdoğan said the world is facing serious environmental challenges driven by industrial pollution, plastic waste, chemical contaminants and unsustainable consumption patterns.
“Air, water and soil are increasingly affected by rapid pollution, and new threats such as microplastics have become one of the greatest dangers to marine life,” Erdoğan said, noting that a single plastic bottle can remain in the environment for centuries.
He warned that climate change and ecological imbalance are contributing to more frequent floods, storms and extreme weather events that affect both people and ecosystems.
“Environmental awareness must be strengthened, especially among young people,” Erdoğan said, describing environmental protection as essential for national resilience and future prosperity.
National initiatives
Erdoğan said Türkiye has made significant progress in environmental protection over the past two decades, pointing to policies aimed at improving urban air quality, expanding clean energy and increasing green spaces.
According to the president, the share of renewable sources such as wind and solar in Türkiye’s total installed electricity capacity has reached 62%. He added that expanding natural gas infrastructure to all 81 provinces has helped reduce urban air pollution.
Türkiye has also accelerated investments in nuclear energy and electric mobility, including the production of the country’s domestically developed electric vehicle, Togg, as part of broader efforts to reduce emissions.
On afforestation, Erdoğan said more than 7.5 billion saplings have been planted over the past 23 years, placing Türkiye among the leading countries globally in tree planting and among the top in Europe for expanding forest areas.
The government is also developing large public green spaces known as “nation’s gardens,” with 314 projects completed so far covering nearly 39 million square meters, while construction continues on additional sites.
Erdoğan cited earlier environmental initiatives dating back to his tenure as Istanbul mayor, including the rehabilitation of the Golden Horn and the modernization of waste management systems to replace uncontrolled dumping.
Net-zero target, global commitments
The president said Türkiye is continuing efforts to meet its long-term climate goals, including a target of reaching net-zero emissions by 2053. He noted that parliament ratified the Paris Climate Agreement in 2021 and later adopted climate legislation aligned with a green growth strategy.
He also highlighted the Zero Waste Project, led by first lady Emine Erdoğan, which has expanded into an international environmental movement and serves as a framework for many of the country’s environmental policies.
Erdoğan said Türkiye actively participates in international environmental agreements and organizations, adding that environmental protection and disaster preparedness should be approached as nonpartisan priorities.
“Protecting nature is not a political issue,” he said. “Our institutions are open to anyone who wants to contribute to protecting the environment and improving the quality of life for our citizens.”
Calling environmental responsibility a matter of long-term survival, Erdoğan said unchecked consumption and growth would ultimately undermine human well-being if natural systems continue to deteriorate.
“We must protect nature as a trust for future generations and work to leave behind a cleaner, more livable Türkiye,” he said.
The COP31 summit in Antalya this November offers a key chance for Türkiye to help turn global climate commitments into concrete projects and real-world action, officials said at a Zero Waste Foundation retreat.
Officials met with the Turkish delegation during a three-day preparatory retreat in Istanbul on Feb. 6-8, organized by the Zero Waste Foundation, to exchange views ahead of COP31. COP31 is this year’s most significant climate summit under the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change and will take place in Antalya on Türkiye’s Mediterranean coast under Türkiye’s presidency and hosting.
Chaired by Samed Ağırbaş, president of the Zero Waste Foundation and COP31 high-level climate champion, the meeting brought together senior advisers, members of the U.N. Zero Waste Advisory Board, and key COP31 stakeholders to chart a road map to the summit.
Lara van Druten, a member of the U.N. Zero Waste Advisory Board and CEO of the Netherlands-based Waste Transformers, Climate High-Level Champion Neil Khor, special advisor for cities and local governments to the COP31, and COP31 Climate High-Level Champion Marketing, Communications and Stakeholder Engagement special advisor Atif Ikram Butt spoke to Anadolu Agency (AA) about their expectations for COP31.
Druten said the retreat gathered diverse perspectives to help ensure COP31 is as effective as possible.
She underscored the link between zero waste and climate change, saying efforts were underway to ensure the issue features prominently on the COP31 agenda.
Highlighting emissions linked to food waste, Druten said at least one-third of all food produced globally is wasted while millions go hungry. Reforming food value chains, she added, could both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and align with COP31 priorities on waste, water and resource management.
Druten also said Ağırbaş’ efforts to unite stakeholders from the private sector and civil society would be among COP31’s key strengths.
Sharing her outlook on COP31’s potential contribution to climate action, Druten said: “There have been many COP summits over the years, and one of their main vulnerabilities has been the difficulty of translating discussions into concrete, scalable projects with meaningful impact, ensuring real change on the ground rather than just talking about it.”
Neil Khor, former chief of staff of U.N.-Habitat, said discussions during the retreat focused on aligning the foundation’s goals with the COP process and identifying ways to support Ağırbaş ahead of COP31.
Having closely followed the COP process during his tenure at U.N.-Habitat, Khor said, “The key element of the process is translating climate policy into action on the ground.”
He added that the foundation aims to collaborate with local stakeholders worldwide to implement climate commitments, with zero waste serving as a driver of both mitigation and adaptation efforts ahead of COP31.
“Antalya is a beautiful city and provides a strong setting to bring together stakeholders, drawing on Türkiye’s long history and tradition of hospitality,” Khor said, referring to the country’s role as host.
Khor noted that while COP summits address issues affecting millions, not everyone can travel to Türkiye. A digital platform to be launched by Ağırbaş, he said, will enable broader participation and allow individuals worldwide to make climate commitments as part of COP31.
He also said Türkiye and Australia were discussing COP31’s agenda, adding: “I think Türkiye has an opportunity in the area of zero waste to bring a new way of thinking, a new way of working that will not only look at the environment from the perspective of nature, but more importantly highlight the philosophy and teachings of first lady Emine Erdoğan, that this is about living and life.”
Bridging north and south
Khor urged cooperation and added: “No matter how strong, large or wealthy a country may be, it cannot tackle this challenge alone.”
Former chief of the Public Advocacy and Communication Section at the U.N. Environment Programme Atif Ikram Butt stressed the need for “the entire global community” to find “common ground and agree that this is the time to turn our commitments and promises into action.”
Saying the world is moving into the decisive implementation phase of the Paris Agreement, a critical period to deliver transformative outcomes and stay aligned with 2030 targets, Butt said, “Türkiye can play a bridging role between North and South at COP31 by bringing parties together to agree on a course to achieve the goals set in Paris.”
Butt added that the COP31 process offers Türkiye an opportunity to showcase its leadership in zero waste at the international level and contribute meaningfully to climate action, given Ağırbaş’s dual role as high-level climate champion and head of the Zero Waste Foundation.
Türkiye’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) will not present opposition parties with a fully drafted constitutional text as part of its ongoing efforts to prepare a new charter, a senior party official, Hayati Yazıcı, said, emphasizing that the process must be carried out collectively in Parliament.
As the AK Party’s deputy chair in charge of political and legal affairs and the party’s Constitutional Commission member, Yazıcı stated that the commission has been working for an extended period and has held more than 20 meetings so far.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), Yazıcı said the commission is not drafting a complete constitution but instead conducting comparative studies on Turkish and international constitutional models. He said discussions have covered what a constitution should include, as well as how executive, legislative and judicial powers are structured.
“We are not writing a constitutional text,” Yazıcı said. “Although we have previously prepared drafts, since it is not possible to make a constitution on our own and it must be carried out in Parliament with the participation of other parties, we are not adopting an approach that says, ‘Here is the text, come and support it.’”
Instead, he said the commission is evaluating what provisions should be included in a new constitution, which current articles may no longer be necessary, and how fundamental rights and freedoms should be framed. Once the work is completed, the commission will submit an executive summary to Erdoğan, who also serves as AK Party’s chairperson, before moving to a broader consultation phase.
Yazıcı stressed that drafting a constitution is the right of the nation. “The constitution is made by the people, but up to now the people have never been able to exercise this right,” he said, referring to the 1961 and 1982 Constitutions, which were adopted following military coups.
He noted that the current Constitution has been amended 19 times, 12 of those during the AK Party’s time in power. The most significant change, he said, was in 2017, when voters approved a shift to a presidential system of governance.
Recalling previous attempts to draft a new constitution, Yazıcı said nearly all political parties have pledged in their election manifestos to support such efforts. He pointed to parliamentary work launched in 2011, during which parties reached consensus on 59 articles before talks stalled.
“Let us come together and enable this nation to draft a constitution that fully represents it,” he said, adding that Türkiye should enter the second century of the republic with a new charter reflecting national sovereignty.
Asked whether the process would begin during the current legislative term, Yazıcı said he hopes so. “Türkiye needs such a constitution,” he said. “We are making this effort, and we hope it succeeds.”
He reiterated that the party has no intention of presenting a fully itemized draft to other parties but may share a road map outlining its principles for constitutional reform.
The government has been pushing to overhaul the Constitution for over a decade now, which was adopted in 1982 following a military coup that led to the detention of hundreds of thousands of people along with mass trials, torture and executions, which still represents a dark period in Turkish political history.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) officials have repeatedly called for a new civilian constitution to replace it, describing the current one as “outdated.” The AK Party has included a declaration on a new constitution in its 2023 election campaign. The “New Constitution for the New Century of Türkiye” declaration, which refers to the second century of the Republic of Türkiye, underlined the need for a new constitution.
“Establishing a constitutional order based on human dignity for the prevalence of developments in the field of rights and freedoms is necessary,” the 2023 declaration said. The declaration also said the constitution would preserve democratic gains acquired during the AK Party’s governance and would ensure a high-standard democracy, guarantees for freedoms and the supremacy of law.
Deputy Parliament Speaker Bekir Bozdağ and former Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ also said earlier this week that although Parliament made radical changes and reforms to the 1982 Constitution, it did not remove the existence of the Constitution, and on the contrary, those changes only fueled the need for a wholly new constitution. He underlined that developments in Türkiye and the world, and political shifts, took this need to the next level. “History forces us to draft a new constitution,” he underlined.
Türkiye’s military is the global leader in the use, management, and development of both armed and unarmed drone systems, the country’s chief of General Staff said Friday.
“The Turkish Armed Forces are truly number one in the world in the use, management, and technology of UAV and UCAV systems,” Gen. Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu told journalists in Germany, at the Distinguished Observer Day of NATO’s largest and most comprehensive live exercise of the year, Steadfast Dart 2026.
He said the Turkish Armed Forces took part in the exercise particularly in the amphibious and land operations, as well as in air command and control components.
“As one of the countries with the highest level of participation, we carried out this exercise successfully,” said Bayraktaroğlu, who attended along with Gen. Metin Tokel, the Turkish Land Forces commander.
Bayraktaroğlu said the Turkish Naval Forces Command successfully carried out its amphibious operations during the exercise, adding: “In addition, a mechanized task force from the Land Forces Command successfully conducted the land operations component of the exercise. We also managed the air system successfully.”
He said all the personnel taking part in the exercise fulfilled their duties successfully and stressed that all weapons, equipment, and systems used by Turkish personnel were entirely domestically produced.
He added that the Turkish task group took part in highly successful air and amphibious operations in the Baltic Sea. He said that the UCAV Bayraktar TB3, after taking off from the ship TCG Anadolu, successfully hit its target with full accuracy and completed its mission.
Bayraktaroğlu said this also got NATO’s appreciation, noting that Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich NATO’s supreme allied commander Europe (SACEUR), visited him and declared that Bayraktaroğlu had come with one of NATO’s largest armed forces.
He added that all NATO member countries and the commander of NATO’s Joint Force Command Brunssum, Gen. Ingo Gerhartz, commended the Turkish Armed Forces units participating in the exercise.
“Our units carried out their duties extremely successfully. All the weapon systems they used are domestic and national. We are proud of this. I congratulate all elements of our armed forces who participated here in both amphibious and land operations, and I wish them continued success,” he said.
Türkiye hopes the U.S. and Iran will engage in “genuine negotiations” and avoid the need for military action, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Thursday, emphasizing Ankara’s preference for diplomacy over the risk of war.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA) and TRT in Washington, Fidan said, “Our wish is that there will be no need for a military operation or war, and that the parties genuinely reach a negotiation here.”
“As you know, this is an issue we follow closely. The process that started in Istanbul has led Americans and Iranians to begin speaking again. This is an extraordinarily important development,” Fidan said.
Following diplomatic efforts launched in Istanbul, the two sides met twice, once in Oman’s capital Muscat and once in Geneva, Switzerland, he noted.
Fidan added that he also met with one of the parties in Washington to assess the direction of the talks.
“Essentially, there are many reasons to be hopeful,” he said. “We hope they reach a result, especially on the nuclear file.”
He noted that his recent discussions involving Oman as a mediator, along with his direct contacts with American and Iranian officials, have been more constructive than in the past.
“My impression from the current talks, speaking with the Omani mediator, with the United States, and with Iran, is that the parties are giving unprecedentedly positive signals, particularly in advancing certain concrete issues,” he added.
At the same time, he cautioned that rising military activity by the US in the region is being “closely” monitored.
“We observe that military mobility has also increased,” Fidan said.
“Of course, we are closely monitoring whether this military activity is intended to put pressure on the ongoing negotiations or whether it is preparation for a pre-planned military operation.”
Despite encouraging diplomatic signals, Fidan stressed that the process remains at a delicate stage.
“How this becomes practically implementable, when it will happen, how the parties perceive it, and how that perception guides their next steps, we are at a critical threshold right now,” he said. “It needs to be followed carefully.”
Trump said Thursday that it would soon become clear whether a deal with Iran is possible, warning that Washington may be forced to escalate if negotiations fall short.
His remarks came right after attending the inaugural Board of Peace meeting, which was presided over by US President Donald Trump, bringing together representatives from more than 45 countries to discuss Gaza’s reconstruction and broader international stabilization efforts.
Highlighting Ankara’s willingness to support post-war reconstruction in Gaza, Fidan also noted that Türkiye can contribute not only to security but also to civilian sectors. “We can make meaningful contributions to rebuilding the health and education sectors and to training a police force,” he said. “In addition, we are ready to provide troops to the International Stabilization Force.”
Reaffirming Türkiye’s long-standing position on the political solution, Fidan added: “Mr. President, Türkiye will continue to support your efforts for a just and lasting peace. We firmly believe that the foundation of such peace lies in a two-state solution. Let us work toward this goal for the benefit of all peoples in the region.”
The board is intended to supervise Gaza during a transitional period following a U.S.-brokered cease-fire that ended Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed over 71,000 Palestinians since Oct. 7, 2023.
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