Ottoman-Era Forts Restored by Turkish Soldiers

As part of the “Erzurum-Loyalty to Ancestors in Traces of History Project,” Turkish soldiers from the 9th Corps Command undertook cleaning and repair work at historic Ottoman forts used during the 1877-1878 Ottoman-Russian War, also known as the “93 War.” The initiative, led by Erzurum Governor Mustafa Çiftçi, aims to preserve cultural heritage, assigning 23 forts to local institutions for ongoing maintenance. Soldiers returned to the Great and Little Palandöken Forts and the Ahali Fort, where their ancestors once defended the homeland, for restoration efforts.