Former HDP co-chair Demirtaş has condemned Turkish government accusations against the HDP in the aftermath of the Gare operation.

Selahattin Demirtaş, the jailed former co-chair of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), has issued a statement regarding Turkey’s Gare operation in a message shared by his lawyers on his official Twitter account.

“I strongly condemn the murder of our 13 people, who were being held by the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party). I share the pain of the families wholeheartedly and I share my condolences with them,” said Demirtaş.

“It is unconvincing to try to pin the blame on the HDP and the opposition for the tragedy that emerged as a result of an operation, which was chosen for the sake of a political show as an alternative to diplomatic methods. It is the governing political power who should give an account to the people,” he said.

He also noted, “What matters is to establish peace by opposing weapons, violence and war on any grounds.”

Demirtaş has been imprisoned since November 2016 on terrorism-related charges despite two binding rulings in favor of his release by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

Whilst the European Parliament on Jan. 21 adopted a resolution calling on Turkey to immediately release Demirtaş, the Turkish authorities still refuse to release him.