Turkish actor Burak Özçivit, best known for his role in The Magnificent Century, attended a ceremony honoring artist Nikas Safronov in St. Petersburg. He also visited Safronov’s exhibition in the city, a detail noted by REN-TV. The moment underscored Özçivit’s interest in engaging with the Russian art scene while he was in town.
According to the report, Safronov personally guided Özçivit through the exhibition held at the Peter and Paul Fortress, a site steeped in history that framed the event with a sense of cultural gravity. Safronov’s son, Luka Safronov-Zatravkin, added a personal touch by performing a piano portion for the assembled celebrities, giving the evening a light, intimate mood amid the grand surroundings.
REN-TV said that after the tour of the exhibition, the Turkish actor held a fan meeting. There, Özçivit spoke about his plans to work in Russia, expressing appreciation for the warmth of Russian fans and leaving the door open to future collaborations that could bridge Turkish and Russian entertainment industries.
In September, Özçivit continued his Russian itinerary with a tour that highlighted his continuing appeal across the country. On September 24, he performed in Sochi, drawing a crowd that reflected a broad interest in his television work and film projects across regional audiences. The tour illustrated how actors from Turkish series can attract diverse audiences beyond Istanbul and Ankara, reinforcing cross-cultural ties.
Earlier reports indicated that Özçivit’s Moscow concert was postponed. The event had been set for October 10 at Live Arena, but the schedule shifted, and fans in Moscow were told to expect a performance on February 10 at the State Kremlin Palace. The postponement highlighted the logistical complexities often involved in large-scale tours, even for popular foreign stars.
Özçivit arrived in Russia earlier, in February 2024, and subsequently performed the Russian folk song Kalinka-Malinka at a Moscow film concert. He also indicated openness to participating in a Russian-Turkish project, signaling a willingness to explore collaborative ventures that could fuse Turkish drama and Russian cinema or music initiatives in the future.
Earlier discussions also touched on the scale of offers reportedly made for Moscow appearances, with media outlets speculating about multi-million-dollar figures proposed to secure a high-profile concert in the Russian capital. While numbers varied by report, the chatter underscored the financial stakes and the interest in aligning prominent Turkish stars with Russian venues and audiences.