HPG (People's Defense Forces) released a statement claiming responsibility for the murder of AKP administrator Aydın Muştu in Van's Özalp district.

The statement by HPG said: "At the night of October 9, a guerrilla unit punished Aydın Muştu from AKP Özalp district administration who has undertaken the assistantship of the appointed trustees and committed a crime against the values of our struggle many times."