PKK News

Turkish soldiers charged with aiding PKK

ANKARA, Turkey, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- A military prosecutor in Turkey has brought charges against eight soldiers kidnapped and released by Kurdish separatist insurgents.

The Turkish troops were captured Oct. 21 when the Kurdistan Workers' Party fighters raided a military base in Turkey, killing 12 soldiers and injuring 13 more, the Turkish Daily News reported Monday.

The military prosecutor brought charges against the eight soldiers on the grounds that if they had kept fighting the 12 others wouldn't have died. The eight were released by the Kurdish fighters Nov. 10.

They were charged with praising a crime and criminal, and not following a direct order. If convicted, they face up three to five years in prison. One soldier also faces a life sentence for charges of aiding in a crime to harm the unity and sovereignty of the country and fleeing overseas.

The indictment said two of the soldiers had not fired their weapons at all during the fight, while another soldier's weapon was missing.

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As the Honorary Turkish Consul General for Georgia, it is my duty and pleasure to promote Turkey to the citizens of the United States and to encourage educational, economic, cultural, touristic and humanitarian relationships between the United States and the Republic of Turkey.

Mona Tekin Diamond
Turkish Honorary Consul General for Georgia