Erdogan commemorates 80th anniversary of Crimean Tatar exile

President Erdogan commemorates the 80th anniversary of the Crimean Tatars exile, expressing deep sorrow and reaffirming Türkiye’s unwavering support for the displaced community

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Saturday commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Crimean Tatar exile, reflecting on the profound grief it caused and reaffirming Türkiye’s commitment to supporting the displaced community.

“We remember with deep sorrow the tragic event that forced our Crimean Tatar brothers and sisters from their homeland, inflicting immense suffering that still lingers in our hearts. May Allah have mercy on our compatriots who lost their lives,” Erdogan stated on social media.

Türkiye reaffirms support for displaced Crimean Tatars

Erdogan highlighted Türkiye’s steadfast dedication to defending the rights of Crimean Tatars, both those still in Crimea and those who had to flee following the region’s occupation.

In his message, he reassured Türkiye’s unwavering support for the Crimean Tatar community under all circumstances.

Foreign Ministry remembers Crimean Tatar and Circassian Exiles

Similarly, the Foreign Ministry marked the 80th anniversary of the Crimean Tatar Turks’ exile by the Soviet Union, alongside the 160th anniversary of the “Circassian Exile.”

“Eight decades ago today, hundreds of thousands of Crimean Tatars were forcibly removed from their homeland and exiled to labor camps in various countries. Many, particularly the elderly, children, and women, perished due to the harsh conditions,” the Foreign Ministry stated.

“The illegal annexation of Crimea has led to new hardships,” the statement noted, emphasizing the need to address the ongoing challenges faced by the Crimean Tatars.

“As in the past, Türkiye will continue to stand by the Crimean Tatars to preserve their identity and ensure their security, welfare, and well-being,” it added.

The statement also mentioned the “Circassian Exile” as another tragedy remembered with sorrow by Türkiye.

“On May 21, 160 years ago, the people of the Caucasus were compelled to leave their homeland under dire conditions, resulting in many deaths,” it said.

Marking the painful history

The Crimean Tatar Turks, the indigenous people of Crimea, were forcibly removed from their homeland on May 18, 1944, and deported under inhumane conditions.

Josef Stalin, the then leader of the Soviet Union, issued a secret decree to deport Crimean Tatars to different regions in Central Asia.

At the stroke of midnight on May 18, Stalin’s decree went into effect, leading to the swift and harrowing deportation of approximately 250 thousand Crimean Tatars, predominantly comprised of elderly individuals, children and women.

Within a mere 15 minutes following the decree, they were forcibly removed from their homes and hastily loaded onto livestock-carrying wagons.

Half of those deported in wagons under inhumane conditions tragically died before reaching their intended destinations. Following Stalin’s actions, Crimea was handed over to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. However, the region is now under the control of Russia, which illegally annexed the peninsula in 2014.

May 21 marks the 158th anniversary of the Circassian exile. During the invasion of the Caucasus by Tsarist Russia in the 19th century, hundreds of thousands of Caucasian people lost their lives.

Many survivors were forced to leave their homeland and sought refuge in Anatolia. The pain of this tragedy, known as the “Circassian Exile,” is still felt deeply today.

Source: Newsroom & AA