Actor Burak Özçivit Expressed His Desire to Visit Russia as a Tourist

According to the actor, he visits Russia quite often, but so far he has seen the country “only through a car window.”

MOSCOW, October 12 /TASS/. Turkish actor Burak Özçivit, known for his roles in the TV series Magnificent Century, Black Love and The Ottoman, would like to visit Russia as a tourist. The actor told TASS about his plans.

In September, Özçivit performed in Sochi, followed by a concert in St. Petersburg on October 9. His Moscow performance, originally scheduled for October 10, has been postponed to February 2025 due to a change in the actor’s schedule. As the Moscow Nights agency’s press service previously told TASS, the concert will take place at the Kremlin Palace. Özçivit will come to Russia to take part in the Music of Turkish TV Series concerts.

Özçivit admitted that he often visits Russia. “And every time I am very grateful to Russian audiences for such a warm welcome,” he said. “I have been to Russia before, when I worked as a model, and now I come here as an actor.” He added that he has not yet had enough time to explore the country at a leisurely pace and has mostly seen it through a car window. “Unfortunately, every time I manage to get away, it is not even for a few days, but literally for a few hours, so I don’t have enough time to see anything properly,” he said. “But I dream of coming here with my wife and children and spending at least a few days, for example, in Moscow or St. Petersburg.”

When asked which Russian city had impressed him the most, the actor noted that Russian cities are very different. “I did not expect Sochi to be such a warm and resort-like city. Moscow and Kazan are completely different. And, of course, St. Petersburg has its own distinctive character,” Özçivit explained. He said that in St. Petersburg he had the opportunity to visit the Peter and Paul Fortress and was also “amazed by the beauty of St. Isaac’s Cathedral.”

The actor also said that wherever he travels, he always makes a point of trying the local cuisine. “Cuisine is one of the elements of national culture, and I attach great importance to culture,” he explained. “Last time I was welcomed with a traditional Russian bread loaf (karavay — TASS note) and vodka. This time I had the opportunity to try Russian kvass. I will return to Russia again in February and hope to try something else.”

For Russian audiences, Özçivit first became known for his role as the Ottoman commander Malkoçoğlu Bali Bey in Magnificent Century. However, the peak of his popularity came with the release of the TV series Black Love. The series won an International Emmy Award in the Best Telenovela category, was broadcast in 110 countries and translated into 50 languages.