The Meskhetian region, located in the southwest of Georgia, also plays a very important strategic role. Although it has been an important place throughout history due to its location, it also attracts attention as a region where Turks went through difficult tests. The fate of this geography where Meskhetian Turks lived was changed by the Soviet Union in 1944. The war between Germany and the Soviet Union during World War II played a major role in changing this fate. Many nations were exiled from their homelands on the grounds that they cooperated with the Germans. Meskhetian Turks, just like other nations, were emigrated to other countries by being put on a train in one day. This issue, which was used as an excuse by Stalin, caused the Meskhetian Turks to completely abandon their homeland. Although they did not have any cooperation with the Germans, Meskhetian Turks also became victims of the policies of the Soviet Union. Since then, Meskhetian Turks have been living scattered in different countries such as Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkey. Meskhetian Turks living in Izmir/Menemen- Koyundere in Turkey have migrated from different countries to Turkey since the 1990s and chose to live here. A settlement called “Ahıska-Kent” was built for them. There are "last witnesses" living here, who were only a small child at the time of exile. It is essential to research the issues that need to be revealed about Turkish history and pass them on to future generations. The aim of this study is to examine and evaluate the experiences of Meskhetian Turks during and after exile through the oral history method.
Exile, Ahıska, Meskhetian Turks, Migration, Homeland.