Since the beginning of the activity of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in Turkey in 1984, a total of 6,205 servicemen have been killed in the fight against PKK militants, Turkish Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz said, the online newspaper Sabah reported on Monday.
According to the minister, the largest numbers of deaths were in the provinces of Hakkari, Van, Shirnak, Bingol and Elazig, Trend reports.
As previously reported by Vestnik Kavkaza, PKK militants began leaving Turkey on May 8, and are expected to leave the country by September.
Imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan previously called on members of the organization to lay down arms and leave the country.
Turkish authorities promised to create conditions for PKK militants who laid down their weapons to freely leave the country.
The conflict between Turkey and the PKK over an independent Kurdish state has gone on for over 25 years and has claimed more than 40,000 lives. The PKK is recognized as a terrorist organization by the UN and the European Union.
