It is not yet certain that whether the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan
has left Russia with his own will or the Moscow has forced him to go.
Apo problem that has caused serious diplomatic tension between Russia and Turkey has started a month ago when the PKK leader had to leave Syria. Most probably Abdullah Ocalan came directly to Moscow after leaving Syria. However where Ocalan is in Russia determined immediately by the Turkish intelligence service and a problematic process has started between the two countries.
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz demanded Abdullah Ocalan to be captured and returned to Turkey from Russian Prime Minister Yevgeni Primakov. Moscow's manner from that point on was inconsistent. In the official declerations it has been stated that Ocalan is being searched by the secret services. However the context of the message brought by the Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov was rather different. The message both hiddenly admits that Ocalan is in Russia and guarantees that he will not be kept in Russia. However Ankara was shaken with another information that Abdullah Ocalan has written a letter to Duma, and demanded its help for asylum right. Duma has approved the application and wanted Russian President Boris Yeltsin to grant right for asylum for Ocalan.
This event was the peak of the tension between the two countries and Turkey has given a harsh reaction to Duma's call. Turkish Moscow Ambassador Sensoy demanded the Russian government to give a clear statement that Russia will not grant right for asylum for Ocalan. Russi didn't give any answer to this statement, but capturing Ocalan in Italy has revealed that Ocalan has left Russia.