Turkish army on duty with selfless personnel, defense minister says in apparent reference to resigned admiral

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Rear admiral who resigned after Erdoğan's demotion says he was set up in 'Gülen-like plot'

Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has said that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) continues its duties with "selfless personnel," in an apparent reference to a rear admiral who resigned recently.

"The TSK is on duty with an institutional understanding, by saying 'we' instead of 'I' in line with the constitution, law, wisdom and science," Akar said in a speech at the 222nd Fleet in the Central Anatolian province of Kayseri.

"It aims to carry out its duties transparently and within the framework of law with the inspiration it gets from the love, trust and prayers of our noble nation and without sentimental, personal, judgemental information and comments," he added.

Akar's remarks were interpreted as an apparent reference to the resignation of Chief of Staff of the Turkish Navy Rear Admiral Cihat Yaycı, who quit his post after being demoted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

His resignation came as a surprise to many, since he was known with his harsh stance against the movement of the U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen.

Rear admiral known with anti-Gülen stance resigns after being demoted by Erdoğan

In his resignation letter, Yaycı said that his honor was hurt as a result of the hasty demotion that took place over "baseless" reasons reminiscent of Gülen-like conspiracies.

"It's clear that I can't continue my duty as a rear admiral who was dismissed as a result of lies and slander via a plot," Yaycı said in the letter.

The rear admiral is also the figure who coined the term "The Blue Homeland Theory," which envisages Ankara's sovereignty stretching across half the East Mediterranean.

In his speech, Akar said that the army's acts in five operation zones are transparent and open to ally types of inspections.

"It's on duty in line with our President's orders. No one should doubt that," Akar said.