Renowned Turkish historian and scholar Ilber Ortayli has passed away at the age of 78 in the hospital where he was receiving medical treatment.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports, citing Turkish media, that the professor's health had recently deteriorated. It was noted that the scholar was hospitalized several days ago and placed on a ventilator before succumbing to his illness.
Ilber Ortayli was widely regarded as one of the most influential historians in the Turkic world, known for his extensive research on Ottoman history and his contributions to academic discourse across the region, including Azerbaijan. Throughout his career, he served as a professor at various prestigious universities and was the former director of the Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul. His passing marks a significant loss for the international academic community and the cultural heritage of the Turkic states.