Meskhetian/Ahiska Turks in time of uncertainty: Changes in civic, ethnic, and religious identification
Minorities at War: Cultural Identity and Resilience in Ukraine, Taylor & Francis Ltd, ss.239-261, 2024
- Yayın Türü: Kitapta Bölüm / Araştırma Kitabı
- Basım Tarihi: 2024
- Doi Numarası: 10.4324/9781003470601-16
- Yayınevi: Taylor & Francis Ltd
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.239-261
- Boğaziçi Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
The last decade has witnessed a large-scale forced displacement of Ahiska/Meskhetian Turks in Ukraine, primarily due to the armed conflict and invasion orchestrated by Russia. Once a community numbering in hundreds of thousands of people, the presence of Ahiska Turks has nearly vanished within a short span of time. This chapter delves into various dimensions of Ahiska Turks’ life and culture in Ukraine, including their ethnic and religious identification, linguistic proficiency, economic and political activities, civil society organisations, affiliation to Ukraine, as well as their aspirations for return to Georgia and Turkey, labour migration, and resettlement in Turkey. It specifically examines the impact of the Russo-Ukrainian war on their lives. The chapter reveals that identification as a Turk is one of the most fundamental aspects of Ahiska Turks’ self-identification. However, this does not diminish their adherence to Ukraine. By taking a clear pro-Ukraine and anti-Russian stance, Ahiska Turks demonstrate allegiance not only to Turkey but also to Ukraine.