Describes the history behind the resettlement of several small groups of Meskhetian Turks, who recently emigrated from southern Russia for the United States. Social workers and those working with refugees get information about: (1) the frequent displacement of the Meskhetian Turks, who originally are from southern Georgia, but had been deported to Uzbekistan, and then later fled to Russia and Azerbaijan; (2) the Meskhetian Turks’ experience of disenfranchisement and discrimination, including denial of citizenship and residential permits; (3) the efforts of international human rights groups as well as international refugee agencies to address the plight of this ethnic group; (4) diplomatic efforts to persuade the Georgian government to repatriate those Meskhetian Turks who wish to return as well as continued wrangling with the Russian government to resolve the Meskhetian issue; (5) efforts on the part of the U.S. government to resettle some Meskhetian Turks; and (6) implications for other displacedethnic groups living in the Krasnodar region of Russia as well as in other neighboring regions. Of growing concern is local authorities’ restrictions on migration to the Krasnodar region, which means the influx of migrants will soon be unable to make up for the natural population loss.
