Re: Georgian press about human rights
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 97 12:11:52 -0500
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Message-Id: <[email protected]>
To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Georgian press about human rights
From: MINELRES moderator \ Internet: ([email protected])
Original sender: "HR Center of Azerbaijan" <[email protected]>
Re: Georgian press about human rights
>Russia Plays the "Muslim Meskhetians" Trump Card
>
>Muslim Meskhetians (descendants of the former residents of the
>Samtskhe-Djavakheti region deported from Georgia in 1944) dwelling in
>the Krasnodar kray (province) of Russia have recently launched several
>rallies in the town of Krasnodar, demanding their repatriation to
>Georgia. These actions, the newspaper reports, were obviously provoked
>by the Russian authorities who refused the Meskhetians new Russian
>passports.
>
>"Meridiani 44" No. 107, December 5-8, p.3
>
>(Moderator adds: Eldar, do you have any comments to this press clipping?
>There was information some time ago that Meskhetian repatriants faced
>serious complications when returning to Georgia - or I am wrong? And
>what reasons, in your view, are behind the refusal to issue Russian
>passports to Meskhetians? Boris)
The main problem is that they CAN'T return to Georgia. In the recent
Gamsakhurdia's period there were forced to exile many from the people who
could repatriate in the Soviet time (in 1970s).
But even now, all the categories of repatriated are rejected from the return
. In 1990s, only about 100 young Meskhetians were accepted in so called
Adaptation Center in Tbilisi. They are learning Georgian for to be Georgians
, but Moslems. These people who are the members of Khsna (Salvation) Society
had partially changed the names to the Georgian ones, and are in the
position that Meskhetians (Meskhs in Georgian and Ahiska Turkler in Turkish)
are of Georgian origin, Turkizied Georgians.
Other, biggest part of Meskhetians think that they are ethnic Turks. They
established Vatan (Motherland) Society, are criticizing the Georgian
government for the "Georgianization" of repatriants and demanding the
repatriation only to the native Samtskhe-Javakheti (i.e., Meskhetia). Khsna
members are visiting the mother-land but are ready to live (and are living)
in other corners of Georgia.
(I forgot to mention the prominent part of Meskhetians who has been
registered as Azeris, but are sure that they are Ahiska Turkler and are
supporting Vatan)
Both societies which are in the permanent mutual struggle have had a little
success of the attempts to return. Now, abroad Georgia are living several
thousands Meskhetians who changed (or restored) the names, but is rejected
in their repatriation because of absense of Georgian citizenship.
Just few days ago, there was first anniversary (Dec 09) of Georgia
President's decree on the partial return of Meskhetians (5,000 from about
200-300 thousands). The decree points about the "restoration of native
names" indicated that more pleasant would be the repatriation of Georgian-
oriented supporters of Khsna. However, even this discrimination decree
doesn't work, because the related laws which would be prepared to Spring
1997 is not passed by the Georgian Parliament till now. The mentioned action
of "Khsna" and "Meskheti" members in Tbilisi was provocated by the draft of
law about the rehabilitation of the politically repressed people. Their
descendants (i.e., almost all nowadays Meskhetians) have no any privileges.
Of course, this deadlock situation creates the conditions of integration. I
saw some Meskhetians who has the stamp "Azerbaijani citizen" in their red
Soviet passports. It is especially clear among the people who is living in
Azerbaijan since 1958 (about 20 thousands). They consider themselves as an
Azerbaijani citizens, haven't a status of refuge, pay taxes, serve the
military service, etc.
So, I'm not surprized that some Meskhetians in Russia would like to get the
Russian passports. They are tired from being permanent forced nomades. As
for the local authorities, they are not interested to give them the
passports because of property problem. Citizenship/passport problem is
directly related with both propiska and the right to have a soil in rich
(and xenophobic) Krasnodar kray, where they are living since 1989.
Eldar
===========================================================
MINELRES forum for discussion on minorities in Central&Eastern Europe
Submissions: [email protected]
Subscription/inquiries: [email protected]
List archive: http://www.riga.lv/minelres/archive.htm
===========================================================
--
==========================================================================
MINELRES - a forum for discussion on minorities in Central&Eastern Europe
Submissions: [email protected]
Subscription/inquiries: [email protected]
List archive: http://www.riga.lv/minelres/archive.htm
==========================================================================