Turkey has denied reports that it is hosting Saadi Gaddafi, son of the former Libyan dictator, on its territory.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry told AFP on Friday that it had “no knowledge” of Saadi’s presence in Istanbul, which was initially reported by Libyan media.

Several sources had confirmed that Saadi had flown to Istanbul upon his release from prison in Tripoli last week.

However, the former Libyan Information Minister, Musa Ibrahim, who is currently serving as a spokesman for the Gaddafi family, has also confirmed that Saadi is with his family in Turkey.

Egypt and other countries said they would welcome Saadi, but he ultimately chose Turkey, he added.

Saadi Gaddafi, who fled for Niger during the 2011 uprising, was extradited to the new Libyan authorities in 2014.

He was put behind bars on charges of crimes against protesters in 2011 and the 2005 murder of Libyan soccer coach Bashir al-Rayani.

In 2018, a court acquitted him of the murder charges and he was released from prison by court order in September 2021.

Last week the Libyan authorities announced the release of Saadi, in compliance with judicial rulings. However, Reuters has reported that Saadi Gaddafi’s release came on the backdrop of negotiations that included senior tribal figures and Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, as well as former Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha.