The folklore and ethnography of Ahiska Turks living in exile

Ahıska region was an integral part of Northeast Anatolia during the Ottoman period. Ahıska Turks (Meskhetian Turks) living in the borders of the Ottoman Empire for centuries joined the Soviet Union after the Ottoman Empire disintegrated. Ahıska Turks, who are within the borders of Georgia, were subjected to torture and political oppression by the Russians. The Stalin regime saw Ahıska Turks as a danger to Soviet Union because they had lived close to the Turkish border. Ahıska Turks were removed from the region in a short period of time since they were virtually devoted their religion and culture, and in case of a war with Turkey, they might have supported Turkey in Soviet territories. Under Stalin's order, they were ordered to be expelled from the area shortly. On November 14, 1944, Ahiska Turks were put on freight wagons and were moved to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan regions of Central Asia. Ahiska Turks who lived in exile three times in 70 years never gave up their beliefs because of their cultural devotion. They showed an admiring and meaningful cultural resistance. Ahıska Turks tightly embraced their faith and culture while the oppressions of the Soviet regime increased. The main point of our work is the folklore and ethnography of Meskhetian people living through the exiles. In our thesis study, which was categorized under four main headings, the short history of Meskhetians, their cultural rituals, national cuisine and folkloric products were examined. We have identified and concluded in our academic work that Ahıska Turks who had been forced to leave their homeland by being driven from the Ahiska region in the territory of Georgia 70 years ago have not forgotten their general values and values of their culture by embracing their faith, culture and resisting all the tortures, sufferings and oppressions. Key Words: Ahıska Turks (Meskhetian Turks), History of Ahıska, Ahıska Folklore, Exile