Türkiye reaffirms support for Ahiska Turks' return to homeland

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reaffirmed Türkiye's steadfast commitment to supporting Ahiska Turks in their efforts to return to their historical homeland and obtain citizenship, declaring that the nation will "always stand by you" during a meeting with community representatives. The president's pledge to World Union of Ahiska Turks leader Ziyatdin Ismihanoglu Kassanov and his delegation at Ankara's Presidential Complex comes on the 81st anniversary of the community's mass deportation from Georgia's Meskheti region.

Diplomatic Advocacy and International Engagement

President Erdogan confirmed that Türkiye actively pursues the Ahiska Turks' "just cause" through both bilateral diplomatic channels and multilateral organizations including the Council of Europe and the Organization of Turkic States. The comprehensive diplomatic approach reflects Türkiye's consistent policy of supporting Turkic communities internationally while addressing historical injustices through established international frameworks and direct governmental engagement.

Historical Commemoration and Cultural Preservation

Marking the 1944 deportation that forcibly displaced approximately 100,000 Ahiska Turks from their ancestral territories, President Erdogan characterized the tragedy as "a lasting wound in our hearts." He welcomed plans for an interactive exhibition documenting the exile experience to be organized in collaboration with the Foreign Ministry, while urging community members to preserve their cultural identity, language, and religious traditions through established organizations like the World Union of Ahiska Turks.

Humanitarian Assistance and Resettlement Programs

The Turkish leader highlighted substantial humanitarian and citizenship support provided to displaced Ahiska Turks, particularly those affected by the conflict in Ukraine. Current resettlement initiatives have temporarily housed 2,315 individuals in Elazig through public housing projects, with 703 already settled in Bitlis, while approximately 170,000 Ahiska Turks have received exceptional citizenship and over 150,000 have obtained long-term residence permits in Türkiye, demonstrating the nation's substantial commitment to the community's welfare.