REPORT ON CAUCASIAN REFUGEES IN TURKEY
Jan. 2012
Summary
The republics included into former USSR have announced their independencies one after another upon dissolution of the union, however, the Caucasian states haven’t been allowed to do so. RepublicofChechnyaunilaterally announced the national independence upon election victory of Cevher Dudayev, pro-independent leader, during October 1991 elections inChechnya, which has been recognized byChechnya-Ichkeria Republic,Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Afghanistan and Georgia.
On the other hand,RussiainvadedChechnyain 1994 and destroyed the county all over includingGrozny, the capital city and left in desolation. According to informal figures, the civilians murdered inChechnyaby Russian soldiers amounted to 250 thousands.
After that date, about 250 thousand Caucasian people had to migrate to various countries of the world, in particular to Georgia,Azerbaijan, Eastern European countries,Turkeyand Middle Eastern countries.
Those refugees who have been settled inTurkeyhave sustained their living in the refugee camps deprived from their civil rights without work permission for 17 years, thanks to donations of the charitable people.
As it has been always the case for the colonizing states at the advanced states of the war, a pro-Russian government was assigned to take the power of Chechnya, however, the struggle against Russia spread beyond the boundaries of Chechnya to cover all Caucasian region located in its natural boundaries.
Under these new conditions, the Caucasian refugees taking refuge inTurkey, who are mainly consisted of Chechens, have also expanded embracing Abkhazians, Ingushetians, Kabardians, Circassians, Noghaies, Osettians, Karachays (Turkish race) and Daghestanis.
There are altogether 4 Caucasian refugee camps, including3 inIstanbuland1 inYalova. Some of those who live in these camps have allowed to get rid of their refugee statuses, however, there still suffer to make a decent living for them. Meanwhile, those refugees migrated toTurkeyupon second invasion initiated byRussiaat the beginning of 1999 are living under even worse conditions. Majority of refugees of second group are consisted of the spouses, parents and children of those who continue fighting againstRussia.
Mostly consisted of women, senior people and their children, it is unlikely for them to go back to their home countries under occupation. Their life safeties are in danger. They were even forced to turn back to their home counties under the pressure of Russia (as it was the case for Egypt and Dubai) and no more news were received from their fate. For this reason, our association attaches prime importance to give its helping hand to these families whose life safeties are in danger.
As it is seen below, the provisional refugee camps in Turkey are very crowded. For this reason, those refugees who migrated after 1999 cannot be accommodated in these camps. In order to solve the problem, our association takes initiatives to rent dwellings in several districts ofIstanbul, with the help of sponsoring charity people.
The information on the refugee camps, the dwellings organized by our association, together with the relevant demographical data are given below.
Yalova Camp
The refugees are living in prefabricated cottages in TIGEM constructed for 1999 earthquake victims.
No. of Dwelling: 51
Total Number of Refugees: 164
Number of Children: 85
Number of Women: 42
Number of Men: 37
Ümraniye Camp
The accommodation is provided in the basement of Halil-ul Rahman Mosque. The kitchen and toilet are common for all.
No. of Dwelling: 33
Total Number of Refugees: 120
Number of Children: 45
Number of Women: 36
Number of Men: 39
Fenerbahçe Camp
The accommodation is provided in former TCDD lodgment, next to Fenerbahçe Orduevi.
No. of Dwelling: 72
Total Number of Refugees: 181
Number of Children: 90
Number of Women: 61
Number of Men: 29
Beykoz Camp
The accommodation is provided in a TokatköyMunicipality’s building.
No. of Dwelling: 24
Total Number of Refugees: 84
Number of Children: 35
Number of Women: 22
Number of Men: 27
Accommodations provided by IMKANDER association.
Majority of these dwelling are located in Başakşehir, Zeytinburnu, Beylikdüzü, Sefaköy, Gazi Osman Paşa and other districts of Istanbul, given in the order of accommodated refugees.
No. of Dwelling: 86 Leased Dwellings
No. of Families Living in These Dwellings: 125 Families
Total Number of Refugees: 600
Additional Estimated Refugees in Exile in Turkey
These refugees are classified mainly in two groups, namely those enjoying the donations of several non-governmental organizations and making their living with their own accounts.
They are expected to be about 600 persons.
According to gross estimates, there are about 2,000 Caucasian refugees in exile inTurkey.
Inconveniences of Living in Camps
Elongated refugees living in the camps have had the refugees lost their regular habits. The people are not allowed to work and accustomed to depend on the donations. This is, however, the main reason for opening the way for innumerable abuses. There are some camp dwellers who are able to visitChechnyawithout fearing of their life safeties, however, those women and children who were brought toTurkeyunder tough conditions and living inTurkeyby risking their life are deprived of having access to the refugee camps and fail to satisfy themselves with the donation they deserve. On the other hand, the camps are preferred in regard to their free accommodation, utilities and other advantages. This is so, even if the living standards in the camps are very unpleasant. As it is the case in Yalova camp, the refugees live in provisional dwelling that are modified from beach cabinets. It is indispensible to improve the living standards there.
1953 Geneva Treaty
The Caucasians are the most deprived refugees in Turkey, United Nation High Commission of Refugees does not provide any help just because of their passport (they are regarded as European citizens , just because Russia is a member country of European Council and they have the Russian passports). RepublicofTurkeyis a party of 1953 Geneva Treaty that mandates the duty of taking care of European refugees’ exile inTurkey. Turkeyfails to undertake the responsibility thereof for years, and the burden of the refugees have been worsened. The refugees are left helpless and all alone, seeking the donations of the non-governmental organizations and charitable people, which are quite insufficient.
What is to be done?
Our association demands either granting the legal refugee status of all mistreated refugees or else, accept their application for “the citizenship ofRepublicofTurkey”, as provided for those who are Turkish races. They are provided with the permission of work to make their living and their application for Turkish citizenship be accepted after a while. Those who were born in Turkish lands may directly be qualified for Turkish citizenship.
We consider either granting citizenship ofRepublicof Turkeyto those brothers with whom we have historical, cultural and religious relations (as it is the case for Bulgarian refugees migrated in 1986 toTurkey) or else, legal refugee status as provided under Geneva Treaty of 1953.