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Problems of Repatriation and Reintegration of the Deported Meskhetian Population in Georgia

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Problems of Repatriation and Reintegration of the Deported Meskhetian Population in Georgia International Black Sea University Faculty of Social Sciences Problems of repatriation and reintegration of deported Meskhetian population in Georgia Valeri Modebadze Ph.D. dissertation in Social Sciences (International Relations and Politics) Tbilisi 2010 i Scientific Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Tamar Kiknadze I confirm that the work corresponds to the field, is characterized by novelty, scientific and practical value and is presented by the format defined by IBSU ……………………………………………… (supervisor‟s signature) Expert s: Prof. Dr. Konstantin Zhgenti……………………………… Prof. Dr. Erekle Astakhisvili ……………………………… Opponents: Prof. Dr. Alexandre Kukhianidze………………………… Prof. Dr. Nika Chitadze…………………………………… I acknowledge that this is my own work …………………………………………………. (doctorate student‟s signature) ii CONTENTS CONTENTS……………………………………………………………………………………...iii ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................... v ACKNOWLEDGMENT ................................................................................................................ vi LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................................... vii LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................................................... viii ABBREVIATIONS.................................................................................................................... .. ix INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 1. Literature review ..................................................................................................... 6 CHAPTER 2. Historical background of Meskhetian problem ..................................................... 19 2.1. Ethno-historical processes in Meskheti until the beginning of 19th century. ......................... 19 2.2 The impact of Russian dominion on Meksheti. ....................................................................... 27 2.3. Deportation of people from Southern Georgia to Central Asia in 1944. ................................ 42 CHAPTER 3. Legal status of deported people and Organizations dealing with the Meskhetian problem .......................................................................................................................................... 52 3.1. Meskhetian organizations. ...................................................................................................... 52 3.2. Legal status of deported people in former Soviet republics and Turkey. ............................... 56 3.3. Legal status of Meskhetian repatriates in Georgia ................................................................. 63 CHAPTER 4. Changing nature of Meskhetian identity and the problem of coexistence in a multi- ethnic society of Samtskhe-Javakheti ............................................................................................ 79 4.1. Problems of common identity formation ................................................................................ 79 4.2. Changing nature of Meskhetian identity – major sign of national identity crisis................... 85 4.3. Ethno-confessional composition of Samtskhe-Javakheti ....................................................... 93 CHAPTER 5. Major obstacles to the repatriation and reintegration process (Empirical Research)104 5.1. Negative public opinion - main obstacle to the repatriation process .................................... 104 5.2. Problems of re- integration of Meskhetian repatriates into Georgian society ...................... 108 iii CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................................ 125 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................ 138 APPENDIX ................................................................................................................................. 149 1. Johann Anton Guldenstedt on Meskheti (Upper Kartli)…………………………… 150 Source: GelaSvili, G. (editor) (1962), Guldenstedt‟s journey to Georgia, Tbilisi: Publications of Georgian Academy of Sciences. 2. Collection of Materials on Census in Tiflis Province, editor K.L. Zisserman, volume I, Tiflis,1870……………………………………………………………………… … 151-184 3. Central state archive of contemporary history of Georgia, Fund № 600,Anagraph№1, Case№476……………………………………………………………………………… 185 4. Central state archive of contemporary history of Georgia, Fund № 600, Anagraph №2, Case № 623………………………………………………………………………… 186-191 5. Central state archive of contemporary history of Georgia, Fund № 284, Anagraph №1, Case № 3322……………………………………………………………………….. 192-206 6. Central state archive of contemporary history of Georgia, Fund№284,Anagraph№1 Case № 689………………………………………………………………………………207 7. Central state archive of contemporary history of Georgia, Fund№600 Anagraph №2 Case № 125………………………………………………………………………………208 8. Central state archive of contemporary history of Georgia, Fund№600 Anagraph №2 Case № 600………………………………………………………………………….209-218 9. Central state archive of contemporary history of Georgia, Fund№600 Anagraph №2 Case № 530………………………………………………………………………….219-220 10. Central state archive of contemporary history of Georgia, Fund№600, anagraph№1, Case №1218…………………………………………………………………………221-226 11. Central state archive of contemporary history of Georgia, Fund№600, anagraph№2, Case №539…………………………………………………………………………..227-230 12. Central state archive of contemporary history of Georgia, Fund№600, anagraph№2, Case №640……………………………………………………………………………….231 13. Central state archive of contemporary history of Georgia, Fund№284,Anagraph№1 Case № 1288……………………………………………………………………………..232 iv ABSTRACT This research deals with the problems of repatriation and reintegration of the deported Meskhetian population in Georgia. It provides information about the historical, legal, social and political contexts of Meskhetian problem. This doctoral dissertation is an interdisciplinary work focusing on the history, contemporary situation, prospects for repatriation and problems of integration of the deported Meskhetian population. The research is based on the abundant primary sources and archival documents, which reveal many interesting facts about various aspects of Meskhetian problem. The doctoral dissertation consists of five chapters. The first chapter is devoted to the literature overview. The second chapter deals with the historical background of the Meskhetian problem. It enables the reader to understand the historical context of the Meskhetian issue. Second chapter covers main aspects of the history of Meskheti: it analyses ethno-historical processes in Meskheti, the impact of Russian and Turkish dominion on the ethno-confessional composition of Meskheti. It also describes the deportation of Meskhetian people from Southern regions of Georgia to Central Asia. The third chapter discusses the legal status of the deported people in various countries where they reside and describes Meskhetian organizations that are dealing with the Meskhetian problem. It also provides information about the human rights violations and discrimination of the deported people in various countries, especially in the Southern regions of Russia. The fourth chapter analyses the changing nature of Meskhetian identity and the problems of coexistence in the multi-ethnic environment of Samtskhe-Javakheti. It explores the ethno-confessional composition of Samtskhe-Javakheti and the strained relations between different ethno-confessional groups. Fifth chapter is a quantitative survey-based study on the problems of integration of Meskhetian repatriates in Georgia. It is based on a sociological survey, which was conducted among Meskhetian communities in different regions of Georgia in 2009. It provides the reader with the information about the problems and major obstacles to the reintegration process. Final part offers solutions to the Meskhetian problem. v ACKNOWLEDGMENT This reasearch was assisted by many people and organizations. I would like to express my gratitude to all people and organizations that have assisted me when writing this PHD dissertation. It is a pleasure to thank leaders of NGO-s Tom Trier (European Centre for Minority Issues), Shorena Kobaidze (Eurpean Centre for Minority Issues), Tsira Meskhishvili (Association tolerant), Iso Molidze (Union of Young Deported Meskhetians), Isa Ashrafov (Khsna), Marat Baratashvili (Union of Georgian Repatriates), as well as Meskhetian repatriates fom different regions of Georgia and state employees, Irakli Kokaia (Ministry of refugees and accommodation of Georgia) and Alexandra Tevzadze (State commission on the repatriation and rehabilitation of the population deported from Southern Georgia in 1944). I would like to mention that Meskhetian community in Georgia has been very supportive. I wish to express my gratitude to Mamuka Khutsishvili, Shota Bekadze, Shahmurad Bekadze, Vaso Iordanidze, Iso Molidze, Telman Eristavi, Hasan Eristavi, Nusraddin Mamisashvili, Gurban Bekadze, Ioseb Khozrevanidze, Ruslan Khozrevanidze, Ismikhan Kozrevanidze, Tofik Izno, Rustam Bekadze, Zoika Bekadze, Mehman Bekadze, Guller Khosadze, Sarvar Lazishvili, Osman Mehriev-Kuradze, Ali Mehriev-Kuradze, Aidin Rahimov, Anzor Matanov, Marat Baratashvili and to all Meskhetian repatriates that have participated in interviews
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