The Press Centre of the People's Defense Forces (HPG) has published the names of two guerrilla fighters who died on 15 April during a military operation of the Turkish army on Mount Cudi in the Northern Kurdistan province of Şırnak.

Nom de Guerre: Çayan Koçgiri First-Last Name: Veli Can Hunulu Place of Birth: İstanbul Mother's - Father's Name: Gülizar – Cemal Date and Place of Martyrdom: 15 April 2020 / Cudi

Nom de Guerre: Mervan Kerküki First-Last Name: Zana Xazi Place of Birth: Kirkuk Mother's - Father's Name: Widad – Xazi Date and Place of Martyrdom: 15 April 2020 / Cudi

Regarding the biographies of the two martyrs, HPG reports that Çayan Koçgirî's family is from Sivas, but that he was born and raised in Istanbul. He saw the extermination campaign directed by the Turkish state against the Kurdish people and was himself affected by the repression. During his military service in Gever (Yüksekova) he deserted the Turkish army and joined the guerrilla.

According to HPG, Çayan Koçgirî was known for his commitment and sincerity and fought in Shengal and Botan, among other places. He left for Shengal in 2014 to protect the Yazidi population from the ISIS. He then went to Botan in Northern Kurdistan where he developed and became a successful guerrilla commander.

Mervan Kerkûkî was born into a patriotic family in Kirkuk in Southern Kurdistan. He saw the guerrilla struggle as the only way to liberate Kurdistan and end colonialism. He joined the HPG in 2016 and later went to Botan at his own request.

The HPG expressed its sympathy to the relatives and the patriotic people of Kurdistan and vowed to continue the fight of the fallen.