PKK leader Bayik: weapons retained until Öcalan release

Cemil Bayik, head of the KCK umbrella, states the PKK will not disarm until founder Abdullah Öcalan is released, directly contradicting any expectations of a negotiated disarmament. This hardens the group's position amid ongoing peace efforts, raising the risk of continued conflict in Turkey and the region. The statement is a clear policy declaration, though its impact on actual ground operations remains to be seen.