According to a latest report from Europol, it has been revealed that the PKK engaged in lobbying efforts throughout the European Union (EU) with the goal of securing the discharge of Abdullah Öcalan, the chief of the terrorist group, and having the PKK faraway from the listing of designated terrorist organizations.
The “European Union (EU) Terrorism Situation and Trend 2023 Report” by Europol sheds mild on the actions of the PKK and its goals for the upcoming interval.
The report highlights the notion of Türkiye that the YPG is an extension of the PKK and emphasizes that the terrorist group utilized funds collected within the EU to help YPG militants in Syria.
Furthermore, the report underscores Sweden‘s utility to hitch NATO and the “2022 NATO Madrid Summit,” which garnered consideration in excessive left-wing circles. It additionally acknowledged that the PKK continues to concentrate on propaganda, recruitment, and financing actions throughout the EU.
The report reveals the PKK‘s excessive degree of exercise in Europe, using EU member states as bases for administrative, employment, and monetary functions. It notes the shut ties between the PKK and excessive left-wing and anarchist separatist teams throughout the EU.
The report additionally underlined that these excessive left-wing circles not solely lend help to the group but additionally endure joint coaching and have interaction in conflicts alongside the PKK.
Europol’s report additional mentions that sure PKK members, who’re both EU residents or maintain indefinite residence permits in member states, journey to battle zones in Syria and Iraq to take part in armed conflicts, usually organized by the PKK. This permits PKK members to later return to the EU.
The report raises issues about international terrorist fighters coming back from the northeast of Syria in 2022, as they acquired fight coaching and pose potential threats to EU nations.
In phrases of arrests associated to ethno-nationalist and separatist actions, the report states that 18 people from 4 member states have been arrested in 2022, with “membership in a terrorist organization” being essentially the most generally used cost.
The report evaluates the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as an alliance of Arab and Kurdish militias supported by the USA and different Western nations. It notes that the YPG, which Ankara views as an extension of the PKK, dominates the SDF.
Furthermore, the report highlights the PKK‘s involvement in fraudulent actions, drug trafficking, and makes an attempt to hinder the circulate of cash to Türkiye by means of on-line channels and requires boycotting Turkish merchandise as a part of their illicit earnings technology.
Source: www.anews.com.tr
