Turkic States Address Media Literacy and Information Security at Ankara Summit

Turkic States Collaborate on Combating Disinformation at Ankara Forum

Representatives from Turkic nations gathered in Ankara on Thursday to address growing concerns about disinformation, information security, and media literacy at a specialized forum organized by Türkiye’s Communications Directorate.

The “Turkic States Forum on Combating Disinformation” brought together officials from Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to share experiences and develop strategies for countering false information, particularly during crisis situations that threaten national security.

Javid Musayev, who heads Azerbaijan’s Communication Policy Sector at the Department for Work with NGOs and Communication, emphasized that information security has become an essential component of national security frameworks. He referenced Azerbaijan’s experiences during the Second Karabakh War as a pivotal moment that highlighted the need for robust disinformation countermeasures.

“During times of conflict, information battlefields can be just as consequential as physical ones,” Musayev noted. Azerbaijan’s approach has since evolved to incorporate more sophisticated monitoring and response mechanisms to protect its information space.

Representing Kyrgyzstan, Zarina Kalmuratova, chief specialist at the country’s Culture, Information, Youth and Sports Policy Ministry, focused on the critical importance of media literacy in an age where social media accelerates the spread of both accurate and inaccurate information.

“The volume and velocity of information sharing has created unprecedented challenges,” Kalmuratova said. “Citizens need tools to distinguish credible sources from misleading ones.” She highlighted Kyrgyzstan’s initiatives to improve media literacy education across different age groups.

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus contributed valuable perspectives through Fehmi Gurdalli, general manager of the state-run news agency TAK. Gurdalli expanded the discussion by noting that disinformation encompasses more than just false content.

“We must recognize that news blackouts and selective information sharing also constitute forms of disinformation,” Gurdalli explained. He described how societies become particularly vulnerable to provocations through orchestrated disinformation campaigns during moments of political or social tension.

The forum included interactive elements, concluding with a question-and-answer session that allowed participants to delve deeper into specific regional challenges and potential collaborative solutions.

On the sidelines of the event, Turkish Communications Director Burhanettin Duran held strategic talks with Omer Kocaman, Deputy Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States. Duran later shared on Türkiye’s social media platform NSosyal that their discussions focused on enhancing institutional solidarity among Turkic nations in combating disinformation.

The meeting explored potential frameworks for strengthening common communication strategies and establishing sustainable cooperation mechanisms across media organizations in the Turkic world. This regional approach reflects growing recognition that disinformation often transcends national boundaries and requires coordinated responses.

The Ankara forum comes at a time when Turkic states face evolving challenges in the information sphere, from foreign influence operations to domestic misinformation campaigns that can undermine social cohesion and democratic processes.

Experts note that the forum represents an important step toward regional information resilience, particularly as digital technologies continue to transform how citizens access and consume news. The emphasis on media literacy signals a shift toward long-term solutions that empower populations rather than relying solely on regulatory approaches.

The participation of multiple Turkic states underscores the shared nature of these challenges and suggests that regional cooperation will likely become an increasingly important component of national information security strategies throughout the region in the coming years.