Halit Ergenç Meets Russian Ambassador in Istanbul
The actor discussed Muhteşem Yüzyıl and Turkish series in Russia with Ambassador Sergey Vershinin.
Turkish actor Halit Ergenç met Russia’s Ambassador to Türkiye, Sergey Vershinin, at the Russian Consulate General in Istanbul in mid-October. According to Hürriyet, the talks covered Ergenç’s career, his recent trip to Russia and the popularity of Turkish television there.
Russia’s Consul General in Istanbul, Aleksandr Kalachev, also attended. Hürriyet published the report on 18 October 2026 and said the meeting took place two days earlier.
What Halit Ergenç and the ambassador discussed
Ergenç spoke about his September visit to Yekaterinburg, a Russian city in the Urals. He went for an International Youth Festival, which brought young delegates from different countries together. Participants exchanged views on current developments in culture, art and cinema.
The conversation then turned to his career and some of its key projects. Hürriyet says the main focus was his portrayal of Kanuni Sultan Süleyman (Suleiman the Magnificent) in the series Muhteşem Yüzyıl. The source does not mention any new project.
Turkish series and their audience in Russia
Ambassador Vershinin said Turkish productions, Muhteşem Yüzyıl in particular, are followed with interest by a large audience in Russia. He also stressed the importance of cultural contact between Türkiye and Russia. The report quotes no further statements from either side.
The meeting shows how far Turkish drama reaches beyond its home market. A diplomat chose to mention a historical series when discussing cultural ties. That is a point of interest for viewers who follow Turkish period dramas abroad.
Muhteşem Yüzyıl and the real Suleiman
“Kanuni” means “the Lawgiver,” a title given to Suleiman I, the Ottoman sultan who reigned from 1520 to 1566. Muhteşem Yüzyıl, whose title means “The Magnificent Century,” dramatised his court and family life. Ergenç played the sultan in the series.
As with any historical drama, the series is an interpretation, not a historical record. Its storylines and dialogue are fictional, and readers who want the historical Suleiman should turn to scholarly sources.
Hürriyet gives no details of further plans arising from the meeting, so no follow-up has been confirmed.
Source: Hürriyet
Featured image: Hürriyet
