In a statement to the people of Southern Kurdistan earlier today, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Masoud Barzani stated that he refuses to accept the parliamentary extension and will, therefore, step down as the President of the Kurdistan Region. In a letter to the Kurdistan Parliament today, Barzani asked for the powers of the President to be distributed among the other branches of the Kurdistan government. He stated that he had accepted the Judiciary Council's extension two years ago because of the war against the terrorists of the Islamic State.

After two days of postponement, the Kurdistan Regional Parliament held a session on Sunday to read and discuss Barzani’s letter. The session began with a discussion on who would chair the meeting. Barzani’s letter was read out afterwards, and his resignation was approved with 70 votes.

During a break after the vote, parliamentarians spoke to TV networks and journalists concerning the context of the session, the vote and how things will proceed from now on. During the briefing to the press, KDP’s asayish (public security) forces attacked the reporters and parliamentarians on the grounds that “Gorran MP Rabun Maaruf’s remarks constitute an insult to the peshmerga fighters and martyrs”. Maaruf managed to get away from the scene of the aggression, while reporters for NRT and KNN got injured, as well as a reporter for Rojnews whose camera was broken.

After members of the parliament sought safety inside the parliament, KDP asayish members and several unidentified armed men got into the parliament, closed down the doors and took the parliamentarians inside hostage. The armed men reportedly demand that Gorran MP Rabun Maaruf be given to them.

In the wake of the occupation of the parliament building by armed men who also took parliamentarians hostage, the Parliament Speaker Dr. Yusuf Muhammed Sadık from the Gorran Movement called for intervention from the embassies, international organizations and media outlets based in Hewler (Erbil).