Azernews.Az

Mass settlements of an indigenous Turkic group in Georgia will begin since January 1. Over 2,000 Ahiska Turks have already returned to the land of their forefathers, chairman of the International Meskhet Turks Society said. Suleyman Barbakeadze said no restrictions were being applied to Ahiska Turks' moving to the areas they would like to live in. "They are at liberty to buy housing or land anywhere they please. After moving, they will be granted citizenship. There is no problem with this - some of them will become naturalized within three months, while others within four months," Barbakeadze said. Some 500,000 Ahiska Turks are settled in eight countries around the world, including 70,000 in Azerbaijan. The ethnic group was ousted from 224 villages of the Meskhetia-Javakhetia region in 1944 on an order of Soviet dictator Stalin. Armenians from other countries were unfairly settled in these territories. The South Caucasus republic assumed a commitment upon admission to the Council of Europe in 1999 to ensure the return of Ahiska Turks to their native land. The Georgian government had been reluctant to work hard in this respect until recently, but started to do so this year under pressure from Turkey and the West. This summer the Georgian parliament passed a law on the repatriation of Ahiska Turks. Commentators say that the fact that Armenians have become active in the Javakhetia region and their frequent anti-government protests makes it pivotal to ensure the return of Turks to the region. The Georgian government is interested in creating a Turkic community there that would counter Armenians' efforts. Barbakeadze says Armenians have no right to protest Ahiska Turks' return to these territories. "We are not returning to Armenians' land, on the contrary, they covet our land," he added.