Before the deportation of the Meskhetian Turks by Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in the 1940s, most of them lived in Georgia. He deported them to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. During World War II, they were labelled "enemies of the state" with little or no evidence. In Central Asia, they were discriminated against and subjected to civil rights violations. When they were finally allowed to return to their homeland, Georgia did not allow them to settle there.
Today, these people live in several countries, but the largest number of them is in Russia. One of the countries where they live is Kazakhstan. In Kazakhstan, they live in the southern part of the country, especially in Almaty, Chimkent, Kyzylorda and Zhambyl.
Since their arrival in Kazakhstan in 1944, Meskhetian Turks have lived in close-knit rural communities. They are largely integrated into Kazakh society. Turkish businessmen invest in the country and Meskhetian Turks serve as a bridge between Turkish and Kazakh businessmen.
