The event is being held with the collaboration of the Writers’ Unions of the Turkic countries, TURKSOY, TIKA, the Writers’ Union of Uzbekistan, and other organizations. The festival is dedicated to the memory of Mehmet Doğan.
The opening ceremony took place in the meeting hall of the Writers’ Union of Uzbekistan, where poets and writers from across the Turkic world gathered to strengthen literary ties. Key figures at the event included TURKSOY Writers’ Union President Ulugbek Esdaulet, President of the Writers’ Union of Uzbekistan Sirojiddin Sayid, President of the Turkish Writers’ Union Musa Kazim Arijan, Vice-President of the Writers’ Union of Kazakhstan Kasymkhan Begmanov, Vice-President of the Writers’ Union of Kyrgyzstan Atantay Akbarov, and TIKA Uzbekistan Coordinator Ali Riza Tezcan.
A congratulatory message from TURKSOY Secretary-General Sultan Raev was read by Murat Kahraman, the Chief Coordinator of the TURKSOY Writers’ Union. In his speech, Raev emphasized that the “International Turkic Poetry Festival” offers a chance to rediscover the power of Turkic literature beyond borders and to revive the roots of shared culture. He also stressed TURKSOY’s commitment to strengthening cultural and literary cooperation among Turkic nations.
During the first day of the festival, several notable figures in the literary world were awarded. The Gafur Gulama Prize was presented to Turkish poet Osman Özbahçe, the A. Jahit Zarifoglu Prize to Kyrgyz poet Atahan Kokogulov, and the D. Mehmet Doğan Prize to TURKSOY Writers’ Union President Ulugbek Esdaulet.
Additionally, certificates of appreciation were given to key figures such as Ulugbek Esdaulet, President of the Writers’ Union of Uzbekistan Sirojiddin Sayid, Vice-President Gayrat Madjid, Uzbek writer Usmonkul Azimov, Kyrgyz writer Atantay Akbarov, and Kazakh poet Kasymkhan Begmanov.
As part of the festival, poetry sessions dedicated to the remembrance of Alisher Navoi, D. Mehmet Doğan, Aliqul Osmanov, and Abai Kunanbayev were organized. The three-day event includes poetry hours, literary sessions, and various cultural activities.