Oktay Saral, chief adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has been removed from his post. Saral said the decision to dismiss him was taken on Erdoğan's instructions.
Saral also acknowledged that his departure was linked to statements he had made about Azerbaijan, confirming that his comments on the country led to the end of his role as chief adviser.
Saral had previously come under fire in the north of Cyprus over remarks targeting Turkish Cypriots, including the comment: "We just could not rid this Cyprus of its Greek Cypriot-ness."
He was also criticised for calling Prime Minister Ünal Üstel "boşbakan", a pun on the Turkish word for prime minister meaning "empty minister". In addition, a statement he made after Tufan Erhürman's election, saying "Turkey's state reason will apply the necessary scalpel", sparked strong reactions on the island.
His dismissal has been closely followed in political circles in Cyprus because of those earlier remarks.
