--- title: "Sultan Suleiman in Yekaterinburg: Halit Ergenc Opens Up to Working in Russian Cinema and Surprises with a Statement About Borscht" description: "Turkish actor Halit Ergenc, known for his role as Suleiman in \"Magnificent Century,\" visited a youth forum in Yekaterinburg, opened up to participating in Russian films, and stated that borscht is also made in Turkey." date: 2026-09-14T18:02:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/halit-ergenc-in-russia-statement-about-borscht tags: [halit-ergenc, magnificent-century, turkey, russia, borscht, youth-forum] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Sultan Suleiman in Yekaterinburg: Halit Ergenc Opens Up to Working in Russian Cinema and Surprises with a Statement About Borscht ![Halit Ergencch at an event in Yekaterinburg: 'Magnificent Century' actor opens up to working in Russian cinema](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/15/halit-ergenc-v-rossii-zayavlenie-o-borshe/halit-ergenc-v-rossii-zayavlenie-o-borshe-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Halit Ergenc visited Russia for the first time and took part in a youth forum in Yekaterinburg (13–14 September 2026). - The actor acknowledged the possibility of participating in Russian film projects in the future. - He stated that borscht is also made in Turkey, which contradicts the position of borscht as Ukrainian heritage inscribed by UNESCO in 2022. - The visit and statements caused discontent among Ukrainians; in 2025 a court in Istanbul found Ergenc guilty of giving false testimony in the Gezi Park protests case. Turkish actor Halit Ergenc, who gained worldwide fame for his role as Sultan Suleiman in the series "Magnificent Century," visited Russia and took part in an international youth forum in Yekaterinburg. During his interactions with journalists, he not only praised the atmosphere of the event but also acknowledged the possibility of participating in Russian film projects, and unexpectedly commented on borscht — a soup that periodically sparks cultural disputes between Ukraine and Turkey. ### Visit to the Forum in Yekaterinburg According to media reports, Ergenc came to Yekaterinburg for the international youth forum (MYF-2026), which took place in mid-September 2026. The actor spoke positively about the organization and atmosphere of the event, noting that he was visiting the country for the first time. "It is a great pleasure to be here, at this youth festival, and the prevailing energy here is simply stunning," he told journalists. He separately expressed pride that the series "Magnificent Century" has maintained a steady popularity in Russia more than ten years after its premiere. ### Willingness to Work in Russian Cinema During his visit, Ergenc acknowledged that he might take part in Russian film projects in the future. This statement came against the backdrop of his signature character — Sultan Suleiman — becoming one of the most recognizable figures in Russian television. For the Ukrainian audience, however, the very fact of a public visit and positive assessments of a Russian event is perceived critically: in Ukrainian media, Russia consistently appears in the role of an aggressor state, and the appearance of a popular foreign artist there sparked a wave of discontent. ### Statement About Borscht The most resonant was the actor's remark about cuisine. In a conversation with journalists, he recalled borscht and stated: "We make borscht in Turkey. I adore it. It's an excellent soup. I am a fan of soups." For Ukraine, this topic carries a special significance: in 2022, the tradition of making Ukrainian borscht was inscribed by UNESCO on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. This is precisely why the Turkish actor's words about borscht being made "in Turkey" were perceived by part of the audience as a controversial and provocative statement. ### Contradictory Data The materials surrounding the visit contain several inconsistencies that are important to consider. First, there is the dispute over the origin and "ownership" of borscht: on the one hand, UNESCO in 2022 recognized borscht as an element of Ukrainian intangible heritage, while on the other — Ergenc himself claims that this soup is also made in Turkey, where, according to him, it is popular. Both positions exist in parallel, and there is no public resolution of this cultural dispute. Second, assessments of the visit diverge: Russian and some international sources describe the trip as a successful participation in a youth forum with positive feedback from the actor, whereas Ukrainian publications emphasize the rejection of the star's presence in Russia and his words about borscht. The chronology, however, is consistent: the forum and the visit are dated 13–14 September 2026, which corresponds to the current moment. ### Context: Career and Legal Case Halit Ergenc became famous thanks to his role in "Magnificent Century" (2011–2014), one of the most successful Turkish series in the world. His filmography also includes the projects "One Thousand and One Nights," "My Family," and "Babylon." A separate body of information is linked to the actor's legal history: in 2025, a criminal court in Istanbul found him guilty of giving false testimony in a case related to the 2013 Gezi Park protests. He was sentenced to one year, ten months, and fifteen days of imprisonment, however the execution of the sentence was suspended — on the condition that he commits no new offense during the probation period. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Star of "Magnificent Century" Halit Ergenc Visited Russia and Surprised with a Statement About Borscht](https://wave.rbc.ua/ukr/stars/zirka-velichnogo-stolittya-halit-ergench-1789408750.html) - Основной источник: цитаты актера о форуме и борще, контекст карьеры и судебного дела 2025 г., реакция украинцев. - [Sultan Suleiman in Yekaterinburg: Star of "Magnificent Century" Halit Ergenc Came to Russia](https://mosregtoday.ru/news/culture/sultan-sulejman-v-ekaterinburge-zvezda-velikolepnogo-veka-halit-ergench-priehal-v-rossiju/) - Подтверждает место (Екатеринбург) и факт визита. - [Sultan Suleiman from "Magnificent Century" Came to Russia](https://www.gazeta.ru/culture/news/2026/09/14/29313505.shtml) - Подтверждает факт приезда; дата публикации 14.09.2026 согласуется с текущей датой. - [Star of the Series "Magnificent Century" Halit Ergenc Came to Yekaterinburg for MYF-2026](https://www.rosbalt.ru/news/2026-09-13/zvezda-seriala-velikolepnyy-vek-halit-ergench-priehal-v-ekaterinburg-na-mfm-2026-5681715) - Уточняет название мероприятия (МФМ-2026) и дату 13.09.2026. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Who is Halit Ergenc and what is he known for? **A:** A Turkish actor who gained worldwide fame for his role as Sultan Suleiman in the series "Magnificent Century" (2011–2014). He also appeared in "One Thousand and One Nights," "My Family," and "Babylon." ### Q: Where and when did his visit take place? **A:** In Yekaterinburg, at the international youth forum (MYF-2026), in mid-September 2026. According to the actor, it was his first visit to the country. ### Q: What did he say about borscht? **A:** Ergenc stated: "We make borscht in Turkey. I adore it. It's an excellent soup. I am a fan of soups." This contradicts the position that borscht is Ukrainian heritage inscribed by UNESCO in 2022. ### Q: Did he open up to working in Russian cinema? **A:** Yes, during his interactions with journalists he did not rule out the possibility of participating in Russian film projects in the future. ### Q: Does he have any legal cases? **A:** In 2025, a court in Istanbul found him guilty of giving false testimony in a case related to the 2013 Gezi Park protests. The imposed sentence (1 year 10 months 15 days) was suspended.