Victimological aspects of the history and modern living conditions of meskhetian turks in the Kherson Region of Ukraine

Abstract

One of the components of the currently forming common Ukrainian identity is presented by ethnonational victimization. Its discourses are changing depending on the features of historical development and the modern socio-economic living conditions of ethnic groups in the multi-ethnic Ukraine and are contingent on the characteristics of the interaction of these ethnoses with the contacting ethnic groups and state authorities. The study results reveal that victimizing content is found in the specific characteristics of Meskhetian Turks’ integration in the host community owing to the features of their identity and ethnocultural characteristics, as well as in the negative perception on the part of contacting ethnic groups and regional economic problems. Negative historic events and contemporary problems of the Ahiska Turks in the Kherson region are often presented through the prism of blaming the Russian Federation. Meanwhile, the representatives of said community show loyalty to the Soviet past and the Russian people.