The Meskhetian/Ahiska Turks and Other Unrecognized Minorities in Russia's War

2024 marks three major commemorations for the Meskhetian/Ahiska Turks. It has been 80 years since they were deported from Southern Georgia by Joseph Stalin; 35 years since their forced expulsion from Uzbekistan; and 20 years since international cooperation gave them a new home in the United States. For the Meskhetian/Ahiska Turks that have remained in Russia, however, like many other minority groups, Russia’s war against Ukraine has once again brought uncertainty into their lives. 

This panel discussion featured former Title VIII Summer Research Scholar Richard Arnold, human rights lawyer Steven Swerdlow, and expert on Russian national minorities Maria Vyushkova. They discussed the history of the Meskhetian/Ahiska Turks, the diplomacy that led to their resettlement in the United States, and the ways in which Russia’s war in Ukraine is impacting minority groups in Russia.