Meskhetians urge Georgian authorities to simplify receipt of citizenship

Despite the fact that, formally, there are no obstacles for migrants-Meskhetians to live and receive citizenship in Georgia, many of them face bureaucratic red tape, said the settlers interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that during World War II, along with other nations, Meskhetians (Akhiska Turks) were deported from Georgia. According to the International Society "Memorial", the number of victims among the Meskhetians, deported from Georgia and other nations of Transcaucasia, amounted to about 100,000.

According to Sandro Khozrevanidze, the head of the International Association of Deported Meskhetians, there are now 198 Meskhetian families in Georgia, who have neither residence permit nor citizenship.

"They have every year to go out of Georgia in order not to violate Article 9 of the Georgia's Law on Legal Status of Foreigners," said Mr Khozrevanidze.

According to his story, about ten Meskhetians have already been twice fined each for their overdue stay in Georgia.

"Of course, this does not add enthusiasm to those who want to resettle to Georgia," he added.

In 2014, a Meskhetian, named Vagif, who lives in the village of Tsiteliubani, Gori District, raised the issue of citizenship for his family and his other fellow villagers Meskhetians in his appeal to Kakha Kaladze, the then Deputy Prime Minister of Georgia, who came to the village to commission the gasification line.

"He gave me his word that he would help, and I'd like to remind him that a man should keep his word. People didn't need gas – we could have warmed ourselves, but we need a legal status in the land of our ancestors!" said Vagif.

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