Istanbul, August 10, 2025 – At the initiative of the Consulate General of Kazakhstan in Istanbul, a commemorative and cultural gathering was organized to mark the 180th anniversary of the birth of the great Kazakh poet, educator, philosopher, and writer Abai Qunanbaiuly. The event brought together representatives of the Kazakh diaspora, Istanbul’s intellectual community, and local residents.

Traditionally, the gathering took place at Abai Square in the Zeytinburnu district. Attendees laid flowers at the monument to the Great Thinker and honored his memory.

In his speech, Consul General Nuriddin Amankul emphasized that Abai Qunanbaiuly’s legacy serves as a spiritual foundation for the Kazakh nation, forming the basis of national consciousness and values. He reminded the audience of the relevance of Abai’s heritage today, noting that his moral and humanistic principles make a significant contribution to the development of society.

During the meeting, active members of the Kazakh diaspora in Istanbul delivered speeches highlighting cultural, educational, and youth projects implemented in recent years. They also presented initiatives planned for the near future and heard proposals from participants.

The main goal of the event was to honor the rich spiritual heritage of Abai Qunanbaiuly, to broadly present the cultural and literary identity of the Kazakh people within the Turkic world, and to strengthen the unity and cohesion of Kazakhs living abroad.

Participants praised the high level of organization, stressing that the event became an important step in promoting the cultural heritage of the Kazakh people and in fostering the younger generation through the example of great historical figures.