Turkish Cypriot climber Birkan Uzun, who in recent days became known for placing the flag of the pseudo-state of occupied northern Cyprus on the highest point of Antarctica, which reaches 4,892 metres.
According to Turkish-language media, the 28-year-old was killed after being swept away by an avalanche.
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar expressed his condolences in a post on social media, saying: “Our Birkan, who devoted himself to his country and nation with love, will always live in a special part of our hearts.”
Cumhurbaşkanı Ersin Tatar, Kıbrıslı Türk dağcı Birkan Uzun’un geçirdiği kaza sonucu hayatını kaybetmesi dolayısıyla başsağlığı mesajı yayımladı: “Vatanına ve milletine büyük bir aşkla bağlı Birkan’ımız, her daim kalplerimizin en özel yerinde yaşayacaktır”@ersinrtatar pic.twitter.com/mGXmaARWKb
— KKTC Cumhurbaşkanlığı (@KKTCCB) January 1, 2022
Bircan Ouzun, 28, who was born in occupied Morphou and worked as a business consultant for a company in Seattle, said that his plan is to climb the highest points on all seven continents.
“It’s a very proud feeling to be able to fly the [occupation] flag at the highest peak, I wanted to thank the country where I grew up,” Uzun said, referring to the pseudo-state.
Climbing Vinson Massif in Antarctica was the fifth part of the plan, which he called “Seven Peaks.”
He climbed the mountain with a five-member team, saying that when he talks about the pseudo-state he wants to send the message that they have lived under an embargo for years, but they can do anything when they set goals.
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