The Russian-Turkish dispute escalated after Selahattin Demirtaş, the leader of the Kurdish opposition party, the "Peoples' Democratic Party" (HDP), received a warm welcome in Moscow on Wednesday. During his visit, he met with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and criticized Ankara's downing of the Russian fighter jet over the Syrian border. This prompted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to describe Demirtaş as a spokesperson for terrorist organizations.
Moscow has now entered the Turkish-Kurdish conflict. Lavrov told Demirtaş that Russia supports his party's political program, adding, "Our attitude towards the actions of the current Turkish administration, regarding the Russian fighter jet that was carrying out a mission against terrorism, in no way reflects our attitude towards the Turkish people."
He pointed out that Moscow "will take into account the assessments of the Peoples' Democratic Party" regarding the situation in Syria, noting that Russia is ready to cooperate with the Kurds fighting against ISIS. He continued, "We know that there are Iraqi and Syrian Kurds among those resisting ISIS and other extremist groups that are armed."
Demirtaş informed Lavrov that his party "criticized the government's actions when the Russian fighter jet was shot down," and added, "We do not support the deterioration of relations with Russia. Problems may arise between countries, but we must always keep the doors open and try to resolve problems through democratic means." He stressed that "a solution (to the Russian-Turkish crisis) must be found, so that our peoples do not suffer."
Demirtaş had announced his intention to open a representative office for his party in Moscow, which would serve as a Russian window to the Kurds of the Middle East. However, the Russian news agency Interfax quoted a Russian diplomat as saying that the law does not allow the "Peoples' Democratic Party" to open a representative office in Moscow, but that it can be represented by a specific person or a non-governmental organization.
Demirtaş's visit to Moscow angered the authorities in Ankara, with Erdoğan criticizing "politicians who speak on behalf of terrorist organizations that threaten Turkey's security and integrity." He called for "putting them in their place," and added, "We thought that opposition figures in Turkey were siding with the Russians, based on an ideological agreement between them. But the downing of the Russian fighter jet made it clear that the support of liberals, nationalists, and leftists for the Russians is not based on an ideological agreement, but on their hostility towards the nation and the state in Turkey."
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu stated that Demirtaş "is always looking for cooperation with Turkey's enemies." He asked, "Why are they going at this time to a country with which we have a crisis, because of its violation of our airspace?"
At a time when the Kurdish issue seemed to be spiraling out of control, both militarily and politically, politicians and journalists close to Erdoğan spoke of preparations to resume negotiations with the leader of the "Kurdistan Workers' Party" (PKK), Abdullah Öcalan. However, the opposition believed that the government wanted a confrontation between Öcalan and the military leaders in the PKK, while sources in the "Peoples' Democratic Party" said that the latter is preparing to present a new political initiative to the parliament, which includes a system of self-governance for the regions in Turkey.
The situation in southeastern Turkey has worsened, with the death toll rising during clashes between government forces and militants from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The PKK announced that 24 civilians were killed in the clashes that have been ongoing in southeastern Turkey since last week. The authorities have mobilized approximately 10,000 soldiers and police officers, supported by tanks, artillery, and helicopters. Official media reported that 168 PKK militants were killed in the past eight days. The clashes have caused widespread destruction and displaced approximately 200,000 Kurds from their homes.
Turkish Transport Minister Binali Yıldırım announced that five planes were damaged in an explosion at Sabiha Gökçen Airport in the Asian side of Istanbul, resulting in the death of one female cleaner and injuries to another. He stated that it is too early to determine the cause of the incident, emphasizing that “there is no weakness in security measures.”