Russian Language and Literature in Turkey

: The aim of this review article is to demonstrate the developmental process of Russian language and literature education in Turkey from a historical perspective. The historical process reveals that Russian language was first taught in the madrasas in the 18th century. Due to the increased use of the Russian language in the army after the reforms initiated by Tsar Peter I, the teaching of the Russian language in military schools officially started in 1882. In 1935, the Department of Russian language and literature was established at the Faculty of Language, History and Geography of Ankara University. Starting in the 1990s, Russian language and literature departments have been opened in many universities such as Istanbul University, Selçuk University, Erciyes University, Gazi University and Kafkas University. Currently, there are Russian language and literature departments in seventeen universities in Turkey, and four universities offer programs in Russian translation and interpretation. The article provides information about the cities, faculties, student quotas and the number of academic staff of these departments as of the year 2023. Additionally, the article elaborates on the ‘‘ÖYP’’ (Teaching Staff Training Program) and the Law No 1416 on Sending Students to Foreign Countries, which is facilitated by the Ministry of National Education. Thе information was obtained from the official website of the Higher Education Council of the Republic of Turkey (YÖK) and the Ministry of National Education of the Republic of Turkey (M.E.B.). This study applies the traditional review method. As a result of this research, the need for expanding scientific and educational cooperation between Russia and Turkey is emphasized to continue and encourage interest in research in the fields of Russian language, literature, culture, and history.