07:34, 18 December 2015

Meskhetian Turks in south of Russia: absence of citizenship is main problem

Vadim Karastelyov. Photo: http://www.yabloko.ru/regnews/Moscow/2014/01/15

A team of experts from the Moscow Helsinki Group (MHG) and the "Sova" Information-Analytical Centre has written a report "Life without rights. Status of Ahiska Turks Cypriots in Southern Russia in 2015". Most of the problems with accommodation of Meskhetian (Ahiska) Turks in Southern Russia are caused by absence of their Russian citizenship, the authors assert.

Vadim Karastelyov, the project coordinator of the MHG, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the report sums up the researches carried out in April-August 2015 in Southern Russia. According to his story, many of the Turks still have Soviet passports.

Meskhetian Turks, who have no Russian citizenship, are deprived of all rights and face problems almost throughout their life. "They cannot legally get employed, buy a house, register marriage; they receive no pensions and allowances, and have no access to medical care," the report says.

The Meskhetian Turks' fate is tragic, says Karastelyov, adding that these people were resettled to Southern Russia, particularly to the Krasnodar Territory, but faced opposition of local population.

The situation with Meskhetian Turks is essentially worse in the Rostov Region and Krasnodar Territory, Karastelyov said, expressing fear that because of the strained Russian-Turkish relations the hostile attitude towards these national may intensify.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.

Author: Tatyana Gantimurova

Source: CK correspondent