Shahin Mustafayev is a renowned author and scholar specializing in medieval Middle East and Central Asian history and culture. He has held visiting positions at various academic institutions, including the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Istanbul University, and Indiana University. From 2008 to 2013, Mr. Mustafayev was the Director of the International Institute for Central Asia Studies, affiliated with UNESCO. Further, for many years, he worked in senior positions at the Moscow Institute of Oriental Studies and the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. On 11 November 2022, Mr. Mustafayev was appointed as the President of the Turkic Academy.