Two Czech citizens may have connections to the PKK: Turkish FM

ANKARA

Turkey has obtained information about two Czech citizens who were caught illegally crossing the Turkish border into Iraq, and are suspected to have links to the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Unit (YPG), Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said in a joint press conference with his Czech counterpart, Lubomir Zaoralek, on Dec. 13.

“We have evaluated that two Czech citizens were caught trying to enter Iraq. There are information and documents suggesting they are linked to the PKK [outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party] and the YPG [Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Unit],” Çavuşoğlu said. 

“Investigations on these two Czech citizens are being conducted intensively. We are exchanging information with the Czech Embassy in Ankara. After the investigation is completed, we will share information on whether they have links or not,” he added. 

“We hope we won’t have to arrest two Czech citizens in Turkey, however, we need to follow the reality,” he said. 


‘They were there for humanitarian aid’

Zaoralek said the information they received on the two suspects indicated they were there for humanitarian aid. 

“As Mr. Minister has also pointed out, these allegations directed against our citizens are very serious. However, according to the information we have received, they were to deliver humanitarian aid in the region. There is information that they were there for a portable hospital. Our knowledge is that they were certainly not here to support terrorist attacks,” he said. 

“Their parents have visited them during their detention. I want to thank them for this,” he added. 

The two Czech citizens were captured while crossing the Iraqi border from a town in the southeastern province of Şırnak on Nov. 17.