A Bridge Between Ukraine And Turkey: Crimean Tatar Diaspora

ChapterPDF Available A BRIDGE BETWEEN UKRAINE AND TURKEY: CRIMEAN TATAR DIASPORA January 2018 In book: 25 Years of Turkey-Ukraine Diplomatic Relations: Regional Developments and Prospects for Enhanced Cooperation (pp.62-72)Publisher: AVİM Authors: Fethi Kurtiy Şahin Middle East Technical University Download full-text PDF Read full-text Download full-text PDF Read full-text Download citation Copy link References (9) Abstract Today, Euromaidan and the following ‘Revolution of Dignity’ are considered to be the most important incidents in the history of post-Soviet Ukraine. In addition, the more recent occupation of the Crimean Peninsula and the war in the Donbas Region have compelled Ukraine to re-shape its relationship with its citizens. Indeed, not only Ukrainian politics but also the country’s relations with its neighbors changed deeply after 2014. Ukraine’s minorities and its indigenous peoples had a special place in this process. Their involvement in the Euromaidan protests, the pro-Ukrainian stance of the Crimean Tatar national movement came as no surprise to many specialists, and their support for Ukraine, their willingness to participate in the reform process, and their support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine initiated a new era in the relations between Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians. This transformation created massive impact outside the borders of Ukraine, and triggered another transformation among the Crimean Tatar diaspora, which had a significant international dimension. In this article, I will concentrate on the change in the relations between the Crimean Tatar diaspora and Ukraine, the effects of this change in the general character of the Crimean Tatar national movement, and its reflections on the relations between Ukraine and Turkey. This work does not aim to list the activities of the Crimean Tatar diaspora; instead, it presents an analysis of the methods and changes in the diaspora