Connecting Recently Displaced Communities with Diaspora Organisations: The Case of Crimean Tatars in Türkiye

Bezen Coşkun

16 October 2026

Crimean Tatar diaspora communities, which have come to Turkish lands through various waves of mass migration over the centuries, have historically been politically active. As part of the RE-MIG research, findings on Crimean Tatars displaced after 2014 showed that Crimean Tatar communities actively mobilise their transnational networks to advocate for Crimea’s political future and the return of those displaced by the annexation. The primary goal of Crimean Tatars in Türkiye—whether as long-term residents or under temporary protection—is the liberation of Crimea from Russian control and its restoration as an autonomous republic within Ukraine. The right of return to Crimea is a historical pillar of their identity.

History of the Crimean Tatar Communities in Türkiye

Crimean Tatars came to Turkish lands from the 18th century onwards as a result of mass migrations following Russian aggression targeting Crimean Tatars. Since then, they have formed an organised diaspora community. The nationalist discourse of the Crimean Tatar diaspora¹ indicates an eclectic understanding of nationalism. Because of their Turkic origin, the Tatar diaspora in Türkiye identifies itself as “Crimean Turks” or “Crimean Tatar-Turks” (Aydın, 2021). Crimean Tatar communities have been integrated into Turkish society from the very beginning. However, this did not mean they completely ignored their Crimean Tatar identity and culture. Crimean Tatars have successfully preserved their national identity for centuries.

Crimean Tatars are strongly attached to their past and politically active regarding the future of their homeland (Aydın, 2021). Because Crimean Tatars have been without an independent state for most of their modern history, their national movement operates transnationally by aligning with Ukrainian sovereignty and international human rights advocacy. In this study, participants’ answers to the question "How would you like to see Crimea's political future?" show that Crimean Tatars in Türkiye are closely involved in Crimea's political future and share a common vision of Crimea as an autonomous republic within Ukraine in the foreseeable future.

The Crimean Tatars' integration into Turkish society and their close ties with Turkish politics through the organisations they have established have helped them to influence decision-makers in Türkiye on the political future of Crimea. The most illustrative example of this is the official statement issued by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 16 March 2024, the tenth anniversary of Crimea's annexation, that reiterated Türkiye’s support for Crimean Tatar Turks, underlining Ankara’s view of the Russian annexation of Crimea as illegal and as a violation of international law.

In Türkiye, Crimean Tatars have established 40 associations and three foundations. Since 2014, many of these associations and foundations have been advocating for an end to the Russian annexation of Crimea and the Russian occupation of Ukrainian territory. The Platform of Crimean Tatar Organisations was established as a forum to act together against the Russian annexation of Crimea (Kırım Vakfı, 2024). During the participant observations, the author observed that the Ankara-based Crimean Tatars Association (Kırım Derneği) is in close contact with both the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the decision-makers in Türkiye. They are involved in all kinds of initiatives to end Russia's occupation of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea. Leading figures of the Crimean diaspora in Türkiye emphasise that Crimean Tatars should be united and in solidarity and argue that the persecution of the Crimean Tatars should be heard by the world.

Crimean Tatars’ displacement to Türkiye since 2014: Livelihood challenges and return aspirations despite residence rights

Crimean Tatars have benefited from the protection afforded to communities of Turkic origin and are eligible for temporary protection and for a residence permit (Kırım Derneği, 2022). Once holders of indefinite permits, they are included in the system and have access to the healthcare system, schooling, etc.

Although they are a highly educated community that includes lawyers, teachers, doctors and engineers, they often cannot work in their professions in Türkiye because their qualifications are often not recognised. They are eligible for a work permit after six months of being under temporary protection, but the employer has to apply for it, and the process takes a long time. As a result, Crimean Tatars work in whatever jobs they can find, including unregistered, precarious jobs. Economic precarity and uncertainty about future opportunities are among the reasons why some of the Crimean Tatar families who came to Türkiye after 2014 engage in onward migration to European countries, such as Germany and Ireland.

 Crimean Tatar diaspora associations have mainly shouldered the reception of displaced Crimean Tatars in Türkiye. Their funds come from rental income from the flats in the Crimean Tatars Association’s building in Ankara, donations and income from concerts and performances and are paid to Crimean Tatars under protection as rent and livelihood support. One of the notable exceptions is the reception of the members of the Crimean-Family School (Kırım Ailesi) who came to Türkiye from Kyiv under the auspices of the Presidency of Türkiye after February 2022 and are staying in a dormitory allocated by the Turkish Directorate of Migration Management. Other Crimean Tatars under Türkiye’s protection support themselves, with help from the members of the Crimean Tatar diaspora.

Although the Crimean Tatars who came to Türkiye after 2014 and 2022 are in a more advantageous position compared with other refugee communities due to their Turkish ancestry and the existence of a highly organised diaspora group, their lives are shaped by constant worry about the safety and security of their families who are still living in Crimea under the oppression of the Russian administration.

 According to the presidents of Crimean Tatar associations in Ankara and Eskişehir, the qualified labour force among the Crimean Tatars who came to Türkiye after 2014 has gradually moved to the West. However, the Crimean Tatar diaspora in Türkiye wants displaced Crimean Tatars to stay there because the displaced Crimean Tatars who stay in Türkiye would continue to support the Tatar national movement and are involved in Crimea's future. The diaspora believes that those who go to Western countries will not return to Crimea once it regains its autonomy within Ukraine, whereas those who remain in Türkiye will. The diaspora members are therefore doing their best to make life easier for displaced Crimean Tatars who came to Türkiye after 2014.

Policy Implications

Crimean Tatars displaced after the Russian annexation of Crimea and after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 are among the legally favoured displaced populations in Türkiye. But several specific policy gaps are causing the outcome the Crimean Tatar diaspora in Türkiye wants least: permanent resettlement in Western Europe rather than eventual return to Crimea after the end of the Russian annexation. Coordinated action between Türkiye, international donors and Germany can close these gaps by building on existing transnational diaspora organisations. These are the policy recommendations:

For Turkish policymakers

•    Reform work permit and healthcare rules to reduce the brain drain to Europe.

•    Introduce rent subsidies and child benefits for Crimean Tatars under temporary protection.

•    Establish pathways for the recognition of credentials for displaced professionals.

•    Provide funding for Crimean Tatar diaspora organisations to support their role in reception and integration of displaced Crimean Tatars.

For international organisations

•    Support credential-recognition programmes specifically designed for displaced Crimean Tatar teachers, academics and other professionals, rather than relying on generic refugee livelihoods programmes.

•    Fund targeted support programmes for diaspora-led cultural and social initiatives such as the Crimean News Agency and the Crimean Tatars Family School.

•    Encourage negotiating parties to establish institutionalised channels for Crimean Tatars’ participation in Ukraine-related peace negotiations.

For German policymakers

•    Plan for and provide support for skilled Crimean Tatars who have moved to Germany from Türkiye.

•    Fund and partner with existing Crimean Tatar community organisations in Germany, as they will be instrumental in reaching Crimean Tatars across the country.

Final remark: This contribution was written within the research project “RE-MIG: Return and Belonging after Conflict-induced Displacement”, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. It draws on 15 in-depth interviews and participant observations conducted by the author between 2024 and 2025 with members of the Tatar diaspora and displaced Tatars after 2014 in Türkiye. All views expressed in this bicc peacebit are the sole responsibility of the author and should not be attributed to BMZ or any other institution or person.

 ¹ The Crimean Tatar diaspora refers to Crimean Tatar communities that have spread to different parts of the world because of historical oppression, displacement and migration since the Russian Empire's annexation of Crimea in 1783. The largest Crimean Tatar diaspora community lives in Türkiye.

Bibliography

Aydin, F.T. (2021). Crimean Tatar Diaspora: Who They Are and What They Mean for Ukraine. Ukrainian Policymaker, 8, 11-25. https://doi.org/10.29202/up/8/2

İstanbul Provincial Immigration Administration (September 2022). Announcement Regarding Long-Term Residence Permits for Crimean Tatar Turks. https://istanbul.goc.gov.tr/kirim-tatar-turkleri-icin-uzun-donem-ikamet-izni-duyurusu

Kırım Derneği. (28 September 2022). Information for Crimean Tatars Who Are Coming to Türkiye. https://www.kirimdernegi.org.tr/haberler/1528-turkiye-ye-gelen-turk-vatandasi-olmayan-kirim-tatarlari-i-cin-bilgilendirme

Kırım Vakfı. (10 March 2024). Platform of Crimean Tatar Organizations met in Eskişehir. https://www.kirimvakfi.org.tr/haberler/87-kirim-tatar-teskilatlari-platformu-eskisehirde-toplandi