Ankara and Baku, within the framework of the “Turkic World 2040” strategy, have begun work on establishing a unified Turkic media platform. The project envisions reducing the presence of Russian media, gradually stopping the broadcasting of Russian TV channels, and closing several Russian-language schools in the Turkic-speaking countries.

The main goal of the initiative is to create a single information space for the countries of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) – Azerbaijan, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. According to the initiators, the new media network is intended to promote Turkic identity, strengthen cultural ties, and reduce the influence of external players, primarily Russia.

Key Project Details:

- The establishment of a Turkic news TV channel and a network of regional editorial offices in OTS countries;

- The launch of educational programs and courses in Turkic languages instead of Russian-language ones;

- Support for locally produced films and TV series with national narratives;

- Possible involvement of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in co-financing the project.

Political analysts believe that this new media strategy could pose a serious challenge to Russia’s soft power in the region. Traditionally, Moscow has maintained its cultural and political influence in the post-Soviet space through the Russian language, educational programs, and the popularity of Russian media.

“What we are witnessing is Ankara and Baku offering an alternative to the Russian information sphere. If the project succeeds, in 5–7 years, young people in Central Asia and the Caucasus will look more towards Ankara than Moscow”, said Central Asian regional policy expert Arman Tokhtakhunov.

For Russia, this means a potential weakening of influence in key spheres – from politics to economics. The most vulnerable will be Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, where the Russian language still plays an important role in education and state institutions. For Turkey and Azerbaijan, the project represents a chance to transform the OTS into a full-fledged geopolitical bloc, where media will become a tool for shaping a common identity.

The first phase of the platform’s development is planned to be completed by 2027. By that time, a satellite TV channel, a unified internet portal in Turkic languages, and several joint educational centers are expected to be launched.

Analysts predict that Moscow will try to counter this process by strengthening support for Russian-language schools and expanding its own broadcasting. However, amid growing nationalism and Turkic solidarity, this is expected to become increasingly difficult.

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22.07.2025 05:54