Turks in Uzbekistan (
Turkish: Özbekistan'daki Türkler) are ethnic
Turks who live in
Uzbekistan.
History
Ottoman migration
The
First All-Union Census of the Soviet Union in 1926 recorded that 8,570
Turkish people lived in the
Soviet Union. Those of
Turkish descent are no longer listed separately in the census, it is presumed that those who were living in Uzbekistan have either been assimilated into Uzbek society or have left the country.[6]
During
World War II, the
Soviet Union was preparing to launch a pressure campaign against
Turkey.
Vyacheslav Molotov, who was at the time the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, requested to the Turkish Ambassador in
Moscow that Turkey surrender of three
Anatolian provinces (
Kars,
Ardahan and
Artvin).[12] Thus, war against Turkey seemed possible, and
Joseph Stalin wanted to clear the strategic Turkish population situated in
Meskheti, near the Turkish-Georgian border, since during the
Russo-Turkish Wars the Turks of the region had been loyal to the
Ottoman Empire and were therefore likely to be hostile to Soviet intentions.[12][13] In 1944, the
Meskhetian Turkswere deported after being accused of smuggling, banditry and espionage in collaboration with their kin across the
Turkish border.[14] Nationalistic policies at the time encouraged the slogan: "Georgia for Georgians" and that the Meskhetian Turks should be sent to
Turkey "where they belong".[15][16] They were deported mainly to
Uzbekistan, thousands dying en route in cattle-trucks,[17] and were not permitted by the Georgian government of
Zviad Gamsakhurdia to return to their homeland.[15]
In the last Soviet Census, which was conducted in 1989, there were 207,500
Meskhetian Turks in the Soviet Union and over 51.2% were registered in Uzbekistan.[18] The majority of the Meskhetian Turks settled in the
Ferghana Valley, where many of them became financially better off than the
Uzbeks. However, in 1989, their prosperity led to xenophobia directed against them, and ethnic intolerance eventually developed into
anti-Meskhetian Turk rioting in the valley.[19][20] The incidents killed over 100 people, injured over 1,000 and destroyed over 700.[21] In its aftermath, there were indications of plots by nationalist Uzbeks to continue their carnage; the Soviet authorities issued an official ruling that 17,000 Meskhetian Turks, virtually the entire Turkish population in the Fergana Valley, be transported to Russia.[22] Another 70,000 Meskhetian Turks from other parts of Uzbekistan soon followed the first wave of migrants and settled mainly in
Azerbaijan and
Russia.[22][20][23] However, Turks who wish to return to Georgia are required to change their names from
Turkish to
Georgian, the vast majority of the
Meskhetian Turks have rejected these conditions.[19]
Demographics
Uzbekistan has not conducted a census since 1989,[24] therefore there are no official statistics regarding the current
Turkish population in
Uzbekistan. International organizations have given rough averages. It is believed that approximately between 15,000 and 20,000
Turks live in
Tashkent,
Jizzakh,
Sirdaryo Region,
Qashqadaryo Region. Furthermore, there are 3,000 Turks in
Bukhara, 4,000 in
Samarkand and 2,000 in
Nawoiy.[3]
Issues in Uzbekistan
Unlike in neighboring
Turkmenistan and
Kazakhstan, Turks living in Uzbekistan have faced unfortunate circumstances. Clashes with the Uzbeks in the 1989 riots in Tashkent resulted in over 1,500 casualties. A lack of provisions for the Turkish community continues to prevail, with no Turkish schools or language instruction having been established. Highly Russian and Armenian presentations in this country have also led to erasure of the Turkish peoples.
Russians,
Armenians, and some
Belarusians have openly opposed the idea of an open Turkish community due to historical fear and tension between the Armenians and Turks. Continuing problems have led to a Celine in the Turkish population of Uzbekistan.
^Şehit Aznaurov'un annesi Türkiye'ye getirildi, Ekovitrin Haber, 2020, retrieved 21 December 2020, Ahıska Türklerinin milli kahramanı Şehit İskender Aznaurov'un Moskova'da yaşayan 84 yaşındaki annesi Kamile Mustafayeva, Dünya Ahıska Türkleri Birliği'nin (DATÜB) girişimleri ile Türkiye'ye getirildi.
^Ahıskalı Türkler Savaşa Hazırdır, Ahıska Gençlik, 2020, retrieved 21 December 2020, Onlardan biri de Azerbaycan' Milli Kahramanı Ahıskalı Türk İskender Aznaurov'dur (Topçu İskender)
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