Delegation of US Meskhetian Turks visits KBR

A delegation of Meskhetian Turks from the USA has visited the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR) and met the Diaspora members willing to move to other countries, said Bektas Ampashulin, the leader of the "Vatan" national cultural centre of Meskhetian Turks in the KBR.

As explained by Mr Ampashulin, one of the aims of the visit was to fix the number of Meskhetian Turks willing to immigrate to the United States.

According to his story, in 2004, over 13,000 Meskhetian Turks moved from the KrasnodarTerritory to the USA. Then, the programme was suspended; now, the States consider its renewal. Diaspora members in the KBR differ in the opinion as to where to go for permanent residence.

"Some would like to move to the States; some – to Turkey. Some would like to stay in Russia; and some want to go back to Georgia, to their historic homeland," said Ampashulin.

However, resettlement to their historic homeland raises several issues that the Diaspora cannot cope with. "The infrastructure of the villages, in which we lived prior to eviction in 1944, is completely destroyed," said Bektas Ampashulin.

Therefore, many prefer to go to America, which, as Ampashulin has stated, "is ready to accept us."