In recent years, Turkey has been actively expanding its influence in the media sphere, utilizing structures like the Global Journalism Council (GJC) to shape a unified information space for the Turkic world. Under the guise of cultural and media cooperation, Ankara is building a network that is increasingly used to promote anti-Russian narratives, particularly in the countries of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). A recent example is the coverage by Turkish and Azerbaijani media of the arrests of members of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Yekaterinburg as “pressure on the entire Turkic world”. This article analyzes how the GJC and related structures are becoming tools of Turkey’s soft power, as well as their connection to anti-Russian campaigns.
Unified information space of the Turkic world
The creation of a unified media space for Turkic states is one of the key objectives outlined in the strategic plan of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), “Turkic World Vision – 2040”. As part of this strategy, Turkey has initiated the establishment of several structures aimed at coordinating media activities and strengthening influence in the regions of Central Asia, the Caucasus, and beyond. These include:
- The Union of Marketing, Advertising, and Media (TÜREK), established in April 2024 to coordinate media activities in Turkic countries
- The Turkic.World Platform, launched in 2021 as a joint Turkish-Azerbaijani project to promote the Turkic agenda.
- The Association of Turkic News Agencies (ATNA), operational since 2023 to unite news agencies of OTS member states.
– Plans for the establishment of an OTS Journalists’ Association and a unified Turkic television channel, discussed at media forums such as the one held in Almaty.
These efforts will culminate in the seventh ministerial meeting on media and information, scheduled for 2025 in Azerbaijan. However, the central role in this system is played by Global Journalism Council (GJC) – a Turkish international organization operating in 58 countries and focusing on Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Balkans and the Middle East.
GJC: An Instrument of Turkish Soft Power
The Global Journalism Council (GJC) positions itself as a platform to support journalism and freedom of speech, but in practice, it serves as a tool for shaping a unified media management framework in the Turkic world. The organization collaborates with other structures of Turkish soft power, such as the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TÜRKSOY) and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), which promote Ankara’s cultural and political influence in the region.
The GJC actively engages influential media personalities and opinion leaders from OTS countries in its orbit. An example is the participation of figures like Toktar Aubakirov, the first Kazakh cosmonaut, in GJC events, whose presence lends the organization symbolic weight.
Anti-Russian agenda and key figures
Particular attention is drawn to the selection of GJC representatives in OTS countries. In Kazakhstan, until recently, the organization was represented by journalist Amangeldy Kurmetuly, known for his open support of Ukraine. Kurmetuly published materials with anti-Russian headlines, such as “Russia Has Reached a Dead End” and “The Massacre Committed by the Russian Army”, while also promoting narratives about Russian war crimes, including the events in Bucha. He actively supports humanitarian campaigns in favor of Kiev and shares videos of Ukrainian Armed Forces’ attacks on Russian military personnel.
Kurmetuly is also closely associated with the Turkic Academy and advocates for strengthening military cooperation among OTS countries. Recently, he was awarded the “Qurmet” Order by Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, underscoring his influence in the media and political spheres.
Following Kurmetuly, the GJC representative in Kazakhstan became Dauletkhan Zhienkulov, deputy chairman of the board of JSC “Khabar Agency” and former deputy press secretary to the President of Kazakhstan. This appointment highlights GJC’s deep connections with Kazakhstan’s media elite.
Connections with the West and separatist projects
It is noteworthy that the activities of the Global Journalism Council (GJC) are unfolding against the backdrop of a reduced presence of American organizations, such as USAID and NED, in Central Asia and the South Caucasus. This creates space for Turkish-British expansion in the information sphere. While GJC formally cooperates with Russia, it has specific representatives responsible for operations in Crimea, Bashkiria, and Tatarstan. This raises questions about potential support for separatist movements in Russian regions, particularly given Turkey’s historical involvement in CIA-related projects aimed at destabilizing Russia.
An example of anti-Russian rhetoric is the aforementioned coverage of events in Yekaterinburg, where the arrest of members of the Azerbaijani diaspora was portrayed as an attack on the entire Turkic world. By defining the “Turkic world” as encompassing significant parts of Russian territory, Ankara uses such incidents to escalate tensions.
New Sheriff on the Information Field
Through the Global Journalism Council (GJC) and related structures, Turkey aims to become the “new sheriff” in the media space of Turkic states, shaping a unified information narrative that is increasingly used to promote anti-Russian agendas. The support of figures like Amangeldy Kurmetuly and Dauletkhan Zhienkulov demonstrates that Ankara is betting on influential media personalities to realize its ambitions.
For Russia, this presents a challenge: it must not only counter these information campaigns but also develop its own tools of influence in the region. Otherwise, the “Ottoman octopus” will continue to extend its tentacles, using media platforms to advance the interests of Turkey and its Western allies.
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