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The governor of Tunceli in eastern Turkey was reassigned to the interior ministry in Ankara following an alleged disagreement with the government over a memorial ceremony held in honor of two senior militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), according to Turkish media reports.
Governor Bülent Tekbıyıkoğlu reportedly submitted a request to be relieved of his duties after he was instructed by Ankara to authorize the May 17 commemoration for PKK figures Ali Haydar Kaytan and Rıza Altun. Journalist Alican Uludağ from NOW TV reported that Tekbıyıkoğlu viewed the directive as unacceptable and asked to be recalled on May 19.
The Interior Ministry confirmed on Wednesday that Tekbıyıkoğlu had been reassigned to the ministry but did not give a reason. The ministry has not commented on claims that the PKK memorial was a factor in the decision.
Tunceli Valisi Sayın Bülent Tekbıyıkoğlu, İçişleri Bakanlığı emrine alınmıştır.
Tunceli Valiliğine, Vali Yardımcısı Sayın Ertuğrul Aslan vekâleten görevlendirilmiştir.
Kamuoyuna saygıyla duyurulur.
— T.C. İçişleri Bakanlığı (@TC_icisleri) May 21, 2025
Kaytan and Altun were senior figures in the PKK, which is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey and its Western allies. In a statement on May 12, when the PKK announced its decision to lay down arms and disband as a result of ongoing peace talks with its jailed leader Abdullah Öcalan, the militant group confirmed for the first time that both men were killed between 2018 and 2019.
The Tunceli event was one of several memorials reportedly held since that announcement. Images from the ceremony circulated widely on social media, attracting criticism from some pro-government voices.
Tekbıyıkoğlu had served as Tunceli governor since August 2023 and was appointed government trustee for the municipality in November 2024, following the removal of elected mayor Cevdet Konak from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) on terrorism-related charges. His role is being temporarily filled by Deputy Governor Ertuğrul Aslan.
The reported dispute shows the political sensitivities surrounding the Kurdish conflict and the PKK’s legacy in southeastern Turkey.
The peace talks with the PKK began following a surprise call from far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli last October.
Bahçeli said Öcalan could benefit from the right to hope and be released from prison if he renounced terrorism and called on the PKK lay down its arms.
His outreach was backed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.