Tweet
OLD TOPIC OF MEKHETIAN'S REPATRIATION SPARKS NEW CONTROVERSY
Nino Edilashvili
Daily Georgian Times, Georgia
June 18 2007
"By allowing the descendants of the deportees to be repatriated
to their native country, we will restore the historic justice and
fulfill moral responsibility before the international community"-
Davit Darchiashvili the Executive Director of the Open Society
Georgian Foundation
Last week by the initiative of MP Pavle Kublashvili the draft law
on "persons deported from Georgia in 1940s by the Soviet Regime"
was submitted to the parliament. According to Kublashvili, who is
the author of this draft version, the draft version aims to provide
legal tools for repatriation of the deportees and their descendants
to their historic homeland.
The draft law proposes that deportees and their family members,
including their grandchildren, will be eligible for repatriation.
According to the proposal, those willing to return should apply at
the nearest Georgian consulate or at the Georgian Ministry of Refugees
and Accommodation, any time between January 1 and December 31, 2008.
This initiative became a topical issue in media. Public opinion in
Georgia is divided on the issue with each side giving quite strong
arguments to support its position.
MP Giga Bokeria of the ruling party said that this one year period
will enable to see exactly how many people are willing to return
and based on this information, Georgia will be able to rationally
plan in such a way that is based on Georgian national interests -
and actual pace of the process.
Some opposition figures have been very vocal in their criticism of the
draft legislation. The Conservative Party said that the Meskhetians
could pose a separatist threat. The Labor Party, predictably, also
condemned the proposal.
MP Kakha Kukava stated that he has two arguments on these issues:
one is national security and the other being humanitarian. "I do not
think that any of these sides must be ignored and not forget about
the integrity of the Georgian state. We call upon the ruling party
to engage in an honest dialogue.
The first priority should involve intensive analysis of the problem so
that it can be solved in a fair and orderly fashion. It is impossible
to solve the problem without first studying it. We don't know how
many deportees are actually willing to resettle in Georgia.
We must make every effort not to create a menace to society," he added.
The 1944 deportation of the so-called Turkish Meskhetians in the end
of World War II has been one of the most controversial and debated
topics facing Georgia. The deportations under the Soviet rule of
Joseph Stalin has been heated concern, and it is now a hot topic that
is shadowed by the strategic a geopolitical position of Georgia being
at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.
Moreover, as a condition to membership in the Council of Europe
that was agreed back in 1999, Georgia took on the moral obligation
of addressing the problem. However, in practice the issue has been
sidestepped, adding additional questions to an already simmering issue,
and this has raised serious concerns if Georgia has the desire or
commitment to adhere to its international obligations.
It is claimed that since Saakashvili became President of Georgia
following the Rose Revolution, the government has come to the
realization that the Georgian economy and larger society is
not financially or morally prepared to accept an influx of new
immigrants. The economic conditions are such that this would be a great
burden, and the authorities have taken the matter into consideration
and decided that it is necessary to further delay the long anticipated
repatriation process for a number of well-founded reasons.
National identity of the deportees -debate over the term
The deportees, that the Georgian authorities refers to as "persons
deported from Georgia in 1940s by the Soviet Regime" have been named in
various sources and studies as being Meskhetian Turks, Ahiska Turkleri
("Akhaltsikhe Turks"), Muslim Meskhetians, etc.
The term "Akhaltsikhe Turks" ("Akhyskha Turkleri" based on Turkish
language origins) originates from the city of Akhaltsikhe. The latter,
being part of Southern Georgia's historical province of Meskheti, used
to be one of the most highly developed provinces in Gerogia. From the
end of the 17th century Turkey took control over Meskhetia, forcing the
predominantly Orthodox Christian locals through economic or political
tools to convert to Islam. During the two-century period of Turkish
invasion, the province was further populated by a number of Turks,
Khemshirs and Kurds, which resulted in a degree of assimilation of
the locals with the newcomers.
Historical Background - Before the deportation
November 15 of 1944 - the date of the deportation - was neither
beginning nor the end of Meskhetians' ordeal and suffering. From the
16th century when the Turkish Empire occupied the southwestern parts of
Georgian territory the so-called Akhaltsikhe Sapasho, an administrative
unit was created, which was subjected to Turkish authority.
As a result of the war between Russia and Turkey in 1828-1829, part of
historical Meskheti - Samtskhe and Javakheti (10 administrative units
out of 24) was reintegrated into Georgia proper. Paskevich, a chief
representative of Russia to Georgia resettled "more reliable people"
(35 thousand Armenians) to Meskheti.
Later, the Soviet government contributed much to the Meskhetians'
Islamisation. Only Azeri and Turkish language Schools were opened in
Samtskhe-Javakheti against local residents' unsatisfied requests for
opening Georgian schools.
Under the decree of Stalin, on the night of November 15, 1944,
approximately 80 thousand Muslim Meskhetians were deported from
Meskheti's districts of Adigheni, Akhaltsikhe, Aspindza, Akhalkalaki
and Bogdanovka (currently called Ninotsminda from 1991), as well as
from the autonomous republic of Ajara. Based on available statistics,
457 people died during the process of the final deportation to
Central Asia.
Mikho Borashvili, Deputy Director of the Tbilisi-based Caucasian House
NGO explains to GT: "Everything was over with within the span of 14
hours. People were rounded up without any food or extra clothing,
other than what they had on their backs; Many of them fell ill to
various diseases or died of hunger and suffered from unsanitary
conditions along the way."
The reason for this cruel decision currently remains unclear . The most
popular theory suggests that the move was part of Stalin's policy to
squash any potential forging of alliances between the Nazis and Turkey
, which had established strong ties with the Meskhetians by this time.
Conditions and challenges of deportees
Today the legal status of Meskhetians varies from country to country,
and even within the regions of the same sanctuary country. Currently
they live in Russia; Ukraine after the turmoil in the Fergana valley
(1989) of Uzbekistan; Kyrgystan; Kazakhstan; Turkey; Uzbekistan; US;
Azerbaijan as well as in Georgia. The most appalling situation in this
respect is found in southern parts of Russia, especially in Krasnodar
Krai where Meskhetians are openly treated as unwanted migrants.
First Meskhetians appeared back in Georgia in 1969, but the majority
of them were forced to leave. During the period between 1982 and
1989, another wave of resettlement took place. However, once again
the majority of them did not stay for long and left the country
because of insecurity, the unsupportive attitude of the locals, as
Georgian that inhabited these regions were not predisposed to their
reintegration. Presently, Meskhetians living in Georiga number only
about 1 000. They reside in Akhaltsikhe, Tbilisi, Adjara, Imereti and
the Guria regions. The experience has shown that in those villages
where Meskhetians were not resettled in groups, the integration and
assimilation process has proved more successful. Especially for the
young generation as the children attend school together with their
Georgian counterparts. As for those, who were settled separately,
for instance in Imereti's Ianeti village, the integration process
has been halted.
Some Georgians claim that it was the Soviet Union and not the Georgian
state that should be responsible for the unjustified deportation in
1944. Such arguments are buttressed with the economic one, whereas
the economy cannot absorb such an influx of immigrants and it would
cause unemployment and could even lead to conflict over land rights
and interfere with on-going privatization.
In addition, as a result of ethnic clashes with Ossetians and
Abkhazians in the early 90s, Georgia already has 300, 000 Internally
Displaced Persons (IDP-s). According to the opponents to the
deportations Georgia has to settle domestic problems first to host
Meskhetians in a stable and peaceful country, which has proved to be
a daunting task in the last 15 years.
Davit Darchiashvili the Executive Director of the Open Society
Georgian Foundation and an advocate of the repatriation argues that
"by bringing the descendants of the deportees to Georgia, we will
restore the historic justice and fulfill moral responsibility before
the international community". Moreover, the argument suggests that the
returnees will contribute to the development of Georgia's economy as
a new workforce and as contributing taxpayers, and will shine light
on the dismal demographic situation in Georgia.
However, the much talked about issue will continue to be a subject of
much concern in the Georgian Parliament and will be followed closely
in the media and throughout the general public.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Nino Edilashvili
Daily Georgian Times, Georgia
June 18 2007
"By allowing the descendants of the deportees to be repatriated
to their native country, we will restore the historic justice and
fulfill moral responsibility before the international community"-
Davit Darchiashvili the Executive Director of the Open Society
Georgian Foundation
Last week by the initiative of MP Pavle Kublashvili the draft law
on "persons deported from Georgia in 1940s by the Soviet Regime"
was submitted to the parliament. According to Kublashvili, who is
the author of this draft version, the draft version aims to provide
legal tools for repatriation of the deportees and their descendants
to their historic homeland.
The draft law proposes that deportees and their family members,
including their grandchildren, will be eligible for repatriation.
According to the proposal, those willing to return should apply at
the nearest Georgian consulate or at the Georgian Ministry of Refugees
and Accommodation, any time between January 1 and December 31, 2008.
This initiative became a topical issue in media. Public opinion in
Georgia is divided on the issue with each side giving quite strong
arguments to support its position.
MP Giga Bokeria of the ruling party said that this one year period
will enable to see exactly how many people are willing to return
and based on this information, Georgia will be able to rationally
plan in such a way that is based on Georgian national interests -
and actual pace of the process.
Some opposition figures have been very vocal in their criticism of the
draft legislation. The Conservative Party said that the Meskhetians
could pose a separatist threat. The Labor Party, predictably, also
condemned the proposal.
MP Kakha Kukava stated that he has two arguments on these issues:
one is national security and the other being humanitarian. "I do not
think that any of these sides must be ignored and not forget about
the integrity of the Georgian state. We call upon the ruling party
to engage in an honest dialogue.
The first priority should involve intensive analysis of the problem so
that it can be solved in a fair and orderly fashion. It is impossible
to solve the problem without first studying it. We don't know how
many deportees are actually willing to resettle in Georgia.
We must make every effort not to create a menace to society," he added.
The 1944 deportation of the so-called Turkish Meskhetians in the end
of World War II has been one of the most controversial and debated
topics facing Georgia. The deportations under the Soviet rule of
Joseph Stalin has been heated concern, and it is now a hot topic that
is shadowed by the strategic a geopolitical position of Georgia being
at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.
Moreover, as a condition to membership in the Council of Europe
that was agreed back in 1999, Georgia took on the moral obligation
of addressing the problem. However, in practice the issue has been
sidestepped, adding additional questions to an already simmering issue,
and this has raised serious concerns if Georgia has the desire or
commitment to adhere to its international obligations.
It is claimed that since Saakashvili became President of Georgia
following the Rose Revolution, the government has come to the
realization that the Georgian economy and larger society is
not financially or morally prepared to accept an influx of new
immigrants. The economic conditions are such that this would be a great
burden, and the authorities have taken the matter into consideration
and decided that it is necessary to further delay the long anticipated
repatriation process for a number of well-founded reasons.
National identity of the deportees -debate over the term
The deportees, that the Georgian authorities refers to as "persons
deported from Georgia in 1940s by the Soviet Regime" have been named in
various sources and studies as being Meskhetian Turks, Ahiska Turkleri
("Akhaltsikhe Turks"), Muslim Meskhetians, etc.
The term "Akhaltsikhe Turks" ("Akhyskha Turkleri" based on Turkish
language origins) originates from the city of Akhaltsikhe. The latter,
being part of Southern Georgia's historical province of Meskheti, used
to be one of the most highly developed provinces in Gerogia. From the
end of the 17th century Turkey took control over Meskhetia, forcing the
predominantly Orthodox Christian locals through economic or political
tools to convert to Islam. During the two-century period of Turkish
invasion, the province was further populated by a number of Turks,
Khemshirs and Kurds, which resulted in a degree of assimilation of
the locals with the newcomers.
Historical Background - Before the deportation
November 15 of 1944 - the date of the deportation - was neither
beginning nor the end of Meskhetians' ordeal and suffering. From the
16th century when the Turkish Empire occupied the southwestern parts of
Georgian territory the so-called Akhaltsikhe Sapasho, an administrative
unit was created, which was subjected to Turkish authority.
As a result of the war between Russia and Turkey in 1828-1829, part of
historical Meskheti - Samtskhe and Javakheti (10 administrative units
out of 24) was reintegrated into Georgia proper. Paskevich, a chief
representative of Russia to Georgia resettled "more reliable people"
(35 thousand Armenians) to Meskheti.
Later, the Soviet government contributed much to the Meskhetians'
Islamisation. Only Azeri and Turkish language Schools were opened in
Samtskhe-Javakheti against local residents' unsatisfied requests for
opening Georgian schools.
Under the decree of Stalin, on the night of November 15, 1944,
approximately 80 thousand Muslim Meskhetians were deported from
Meskheti's districts of Adigheni, Akhaltsikhe, Aspindza, Akhalkalaki
and Bogdanovka (currently called Ninotsminda from 1991), as well as
from the autonomous republic of Ajara. Based on available statistics,
457 people died during the process of the final deportation to
Central Asia.
Mikho Borashvili, Deputy Director of the Tbilisi-based Caucasian House
NGO explains to GT: "Everything was over with within the span of 14
hours. People were rounded up without any food or extra clothing,
other than what they had on their backs; Many of them fell ill to
various diseases or died of hunger and suffered from unsanitary
conditions along the way."
The reason for this cruel decision currently remains unclear . The most
popular theory suggests that the move was part of Stalin's policy to
squash any potential forging of alliances between the Nazis and Turkey
, which had established strong ties with the Meskhetians by this time.
Conditions and challenges of deportees
Today the legal status of Meskhetians varies from country to country,
and even within the regions of the same sanctuary country. Currently
they live in Russia; Ukraine after the turmoil in the Fergana valley
(1989) of Uzbekistan; Kyrgystan; Kazakhstan; Turkey; Uzbekistan; US;
Azerbaijan as well as in Georgia. The most appalling situation in this
respect is found in southern parts of Russia, especially in Krasnodar
Krai where Meskhetians are openly treated as unwanted migrants.
First Meskhetians appeared back in Georgia in 1969, but the majority
of them were forced to leave. During the period between 1982 and
1989, another wave of resettlement took place. However, once again
the majority of them did not stay for long and left the country
because of insecurity, the unsupportive attitude of the locals, as
Georgian that inhabited these regions were not predisposed to their
reintegration. Presently, Meskhetians living in Georiga number only
about 1 000. They reside in Akhaltsikhe, Tbilisi, Adjara, Imereti and
the Guria regions. The experience has shown that in those villages
where Meskhetians were not resettled in groups, the integration and
assimilation process has proved more successful. Especially for the
young generation as the children attend school together with their
Georgian counterparts. As for those, who were settled separately,
for instance in Imereti's Ianeti village, the integration process
has been halted.
Some Georgians claim that it was the Soviet Union and not the Georgian
state that should be responsible for the unjustified deportation in
1944. Such arguments are buttressed with the economic one, whereas
the economy cannot absorb such an influx of immigrants and it would
cause unemployment and could even lead to conflict over land rights
and interfere with on-going privatization.
In addition, as a result of ethnic clashes with Ossetians and
Abkhazians in the early 90s, Georgia already has 300, 000 Internally
Displaced Persons (IDP-s). According to the opponents to the
deportations Georgia has to settle domestic problems first to host
Meskhetians in a stable and peaceful country, which has proved to be
a daunting task in the last 15 years.
Davit Darchiashvili the Executive Director of the Open Society
Georgian Foundation and an advocate of the repatriation argues that
"by bringing the descendants of the deportees to Georgia, we will
restore the historic justice and fulfill moral responsibility before
the international community". Moreover, the argument suggests that the
returnees will contribute to the development of Georgia's economy as
a new workforce and as contributing taxpayers, and will shine light
on the dismal demographic situation in Georgia.
However, the much talked about issue will continue to be a subject of
much concern in the Georgian Parliament and will be followed closely
in the media and throughout the general public.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress