What is a Meskhetian Turk?
Last Saturday, my family and I went to the Russian store on Bardstown rd in Louisville, KY. I have only been in Kentucky for two months but already found the Russian store. I have a talent for finding the ethnic groceries no matter where I live.
We were happy to already find this little store. I heard that the owner was at first a Georgian, but now I hear that he might be Armenian Jew. I will ask him next time. We looked around the shop for delicious sausages and ikra. The owner gave my kids free candy. While we shopped we watched other people come in from all over the Soviet Union, most of them Jewish. Then, right before we left, two men came in who were obviously not Russian. The weren’t quite Uzbek looking either. They talked to my husband in Russian and later he explained to me that they were Meskhetian Turks.
I felt so ignorant. I thought I knew about most of the ethnic minorities of the former Soviet Union, but I realize now that I have a lot to learn. Meskhetian Turks were originally from Georgia but were forced to move to Uzbekistan by Stalin. After independence, the Meskhetian Turks were forced out the Ferghana Valley. Many are now trying to return to Georgia, but Georgia is also giving them a difficult time. Some have joined Christian religions in order to receive refugee status and some are being sponsored here in Louisville. Here is a story about Meskhetian Turks in Louisville. Here is another story about the US refugee policies and Meskhetian Turks. Here is another article from BBCnews.com. The article also explains how Meskhetian Turks receive refugee status.
“They are leaving as part of a resettlement programme managed by the US State Department and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
American diplomats and representatives of international NGOs say that for the last 15 years, Meskhetian Turks have been denied even the most basic of human rights here.
Only one in three Turks managed to get a Russian passport.
The rest are stuck in a legal limbo - with documents issued back in the Soviet era which are now invalid.
This means none of the Turks can get what is known as “registration”, a vital piece of paper without which no Russian can be admitted to a hospital, paid pension and benefits - or even be offered a job. ”
So I learned something new last weekend. Since Meskhetian Turks now have refugee status, we may see more of them here in the USA. See also Meskhetian Turks in Wikipedia.
on March 28th, 2008 at 3:29 am
Hello.As a Meskhetian Turk I became very happy when I see your message and interest and positive attitute to Meskhetian Turks.Unfortunatelly there are some mistakes news about Meskhetian Turks.Example that Mesketians forced to take christian religoin in Georgia in order to take refugees.It is not true. For example here in Georgia there are about 812 Meskhetians and all of them are Muslim.No one is forced to change religious.I even made research about the people living in Georgia.The problem is that Georgia is not helping us because its situation is not good.But it is also true that some ministers strictly says that we are Turks and are again us and do not want to return them to Georgia but we do not much care about them.So, Georgia accepted the law to take our people but not helping. Anyone who can afford can come,but i cannot suggest anyone to come here,however accepting the law about taking us is not necessary.It have to help us as American helped. I am very Greatful that USA gave our people refugees I can also mention that USA is the only country which really hellped our people.It hellped more then any other countries.I wish Georgia were done the same.
By the way I will be forward to answering all the question of yourse.I mean that I can help you about knwing more about us.I apprecate your interest.Why?because we are short of warm.Everywhere we went we were like strangers even in Georgia and Turkey despite the fact that we have the local passports.Example>Now in Georgia I have Georgian Nationality but i am remaind as foreigner.Most of them thinks so.Fell free to ask me questions about Meskhetian Turks if anyt question
Meskhetian Student from the republic of Georgia
Best reguards