Azerbaijani parliament speaker extends condolences to Turkish counterpart over death of MP

Speaker of Azerbaijan’s parliament Sahiba Gafarova has sent a letter of condolences to Numan Kurtulmuş, Speaker of Türkiye’s Grand National Assembly, following the passing of Deputy Speaker of the Turkish parliament Sırrı Süreyya Önder.

The letter, sent on behalf of Gafarova and the Azerbaijani MPs expresses deep sorrow and sympathy for the family and relatives of Önder, who passed away recently, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

In her message, Gafarova also conveyed heartfelt condolences to the Turkish MPs, praying for the peace of the deceased's soul.

Sırrı Süreyya Önder, deputy speaker of Turkey’s parliament and a prominent figure in the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, has died following complications from a serious heart condition. He was 62. The İstanbul Florence Nightingale Hospital, where Önder had been receiving intensive care. He had been in critical condition since undergoing major heart surgery on Apr 15. 

Önder was admitted to the hospital unconscious and in cardiac arrest. Doctors diagnosed an aortic dissection, a life-threatening tear in the main artery, and immediately performed a surgery, which lasted around 12 hours. Following the operation, Önder remained in the intensive care unit for 18 days under close monitoring, including cardiac support. “Despite extensive intensive care treatment, Mr. Sırrı Süreyya Önder’s condition continued to worsen," the hospital said in a statement.

By Naila Huseynova