Bulgarian immigrants from social and cultural perspective within the framework of the great migration of 1989

Since the Ottoman period, a substantial Turkish population has resided within the territories of Bulgaria. Following the establishment of the Bulgarian state, Turks remained as a minority group. However, due to their considerable numbers and rapid population growth, the Turkish minority has consistently been perceived as a sensitive issue by successive Bulgarian governments, which have sought various policies to address this matter. After World War II, with the establishment of a socialist regime in Bulgaria, the policies targeting the Turkish minority underwent significant changes. This study chronologically examines the migration processes of Bulgarian Turks to Turkey, provides a comprehensive analysis of the assimilation policies implemented by the Bulgarian government, and explores the impacts of these policies on the Turkish community, culminating in the phenomenon of forced migration. The findings from the literature review are further substantiated through in-depth interviews conducted with individuals who migrated to Turkey in 1989, offering qualitative insights into this critical historical event.