There appeared a large number of Armenian migrants in Turkey after the independence of Armenia. Due to a number of historical and political factors that have left Armenia and Turkey with no diplomatic relations the new arrivals in Turkey have been considered a vulnerable group and susceptible to Turkish animosity. Two of these factors include:

1. Illegal status as a migrant,
2. Lack of protection the Armenian government can offer due to frozen status of both nations relationships.

As a result of the above-mentioned factors Armenian migrants have become a political tool for Turkish authorities and political circles, as well as targets of assault for state and public sentiment.

The Numbers

T here is no precise statistics on Armenian migrants in Turkey. Though the quoted figure from the authorities mentions about 100 thousand, based on Armenian data, this figure is exaggerated. The 100 thousand probably includes both the Armenians with Turkish citizenship [1] and the Armenian labor migrants.

If the number of the Armenian community is about 70 thousand based on figures from the Armenian Patriarchate, than it is logical to hazard a guess that the other 30 thousand are probably residents of Armenia. A record published by “Hrant DinK” Foundation and Istanbul Bilgi University Center for Migration Research in June, 2019 mentions about a more limited number of Armenian migrants, consisting of around 15-20 thousand [2]. Turkologist Ruben Melqonyan, the Dean of YSU Faculty of Oriental Studies also gave such an assessment on the number of Armenian refugees [3].

The exaggeration of Armenian refugee figures by the Turkish authorities pursues a larger goalset:

1. Creating a tolerant, democratic, hospitable and attractive image and positive propaganda for Turkey.
2. Veiled denial of Genocide, persisting that if Turkey is a genocidal country, why have so many Armenians settled here?
3. Increasing the threat of deportation to impact Armenia and Armenians.  .

Vulnerability of an Ethnic Minority.

C onsidered as a vulnerable group, the Armenian migrants regularly become a target of Turkish animosity. Whenever the issue of Armenian Genocide is touched upon internationally, Turkish authorities do not miss the opportunity to politicize the possibility of deporting there illegal Armenian migrants. The issue of deportation of Armenian refugees has been on the agenda of Turkish public-political circles since the mid-1990s. Prime Minister Tansu Chiller was the first to mention it [4].

The issue has been more actively touched upon in the last decade. In 2010, Turkey’s Prime Minister Erdogan threatened to deport Armenians [5]. These threats have been repeated by both the supreme authorities [6] and public-political circles.  Another comment was made on February 5, this year, following the French President Emmanuel Macron’s Speech during the Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF) annual dinner with the announcement by Macron that April 24 will be declared as the National Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide [7], by signing the decree on April 10 [8].

This announcement received an emotional reaction in Turkey strongly criticizing France and its President, Mustafa Destici, the leader of the Great Union Party (BBP) said: “Today there are 100 thousand Armenian refugees in Turkey. I say, we should deport them from Turkey. On the one hand, they form an anti-Turkish lobby and on the other hand, we feed them” [9].

Besides the inaccuracy on the figures, this statement is an obvious sign of garnering anti Armenian support from the local population accusing Armenian refugees of an anti Turkish stance. Actually, there is no evidence that the Armenians in Turkey have a lobby or conduct any such activity. This is evident as they do not have any legal, organizational or financial resources. Thus, the exaggeration of Armenian migrants’ numbers is an anti-Armenian propaganda of the Turkish public-political circles.

In July 2019, Suleyman Yozgaraaslan, Turkish Parliament’s MP and member of the Justice and Development party (AKP) came up with a question-proposal on social networks to deport Syrian refugees along with other immigrants “100 thousand Armenians who live illegally in Turkey”.  The issue on deporting Armenian migrants became so common in Turkish political discourse, that according to a “Nor Marmara” newspaper: “…when political agenda is idle, and there is nothing to talk about, the issue on deporting Armenians from the country is always “ready” to be pulled out from political ambushes and placed on the agenda” [10].

Regarding these regressive elements in society, among which is the incident of the “conversion” of a 13-year-old Armenian boy named Arthur in May 2019, as well as a knife attack on Arpine Tumanyan on May 31 [12] these crimes were not a coincidence  indicated by the general atmosphere and tension created by politicians.  

Signs of intolerance eventually shift the perception of Armenian migrants living in Turkey who have been contemplating leaving the country. Arpine Tumanyan’s family (husband and 2 kids), who was the victim of the stabbing, moved to another apartment for security reasons and after her recovery, returned to Armenia. The passive attitude of the Turkish state also contributes to this change in attitudes towards the idea of remaining in Turkey: the crime hasn’t been revealed yet, in spite of the efforts made by an MP Garo Paylan and other progressive forces in Turkey [14].

Relations with the traditional Armenian community

H owever, Armenian refugees are not completely unprotected in Turkey, as the protection of their rights and interests are partially carried out by other organizations and individuals, among which are the Armenian religious institutions: the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Armenian Catholic Church and Evangelical Church of Armenia. One of these institutions is the “Hrant Dink” School established by Grigor Azabaloghlu, in 2003, providing education of Armenian children.

Pupils of “Hrant Dink” School with their parents, teachers and school management

In the absence of Armenian-Turkish diplomatic relations, the permanent representation of Armenia in the Organization for the Black Sea Economic Cooperation also ensures the functions of the RA diplomatic representation in Turkey. The Armenian Press in Turkey also takes the initiative in protecting the rights of the Armenian labor migrants, by responding quickly and critically to vilification against Armenians.

As to the support from individuals, the most prominent figure among them is the Armenian member of the Turkish Parliament Garo Paylan (from Peoples’ Democratic Party), who voices the issues of the Armenian refugees settled in Turkey in and outside of the country’s legislative body.

Garo Paylan and the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople condemned both the “conversion” of the 13-year-old Armenian boy and an attack on Arpine Tumanyan.

After the live broadcast “conversion” of the 13-year-old Arthur, Archbishop Aram Ateshyan, the former General Vicar of the Armenian Patriarch of Turkey called the Head of the Turkey’s Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) and expressed his concerns. He also filed a complaint against Nihat Hapitoglu, an Islamic preacher who carried out the process of the boy’s “conversion” [15]. Garo Paylan, called this phenomenon the exploitation of minors in social networks, warning that he will file an official complaint against the Supreme Council of Radio and Television and Turkish Prosecutor’s Office about the TV program [16].

After the attack on the Armenian woman, the General Vicar of the Armenian Patriarch of Turkey, Archbishop Aram Ateshyan contacted the Security Directorate of Istanbul, with the request to disclose the crime. He also visited the victim, blessing and wishing her a speedy recovery [17]. The Peoples’ Democratic Party members Garo Paylan and Hyuda Gaya, sent a request for this crime to the Turkish Minister of Interior Suleyman Solyu. The Armenian MP visited the attacked family as well [18].

These acts of violence against Armenian migrants were harshly condemned not only by Turkish opposition political forces, but also by other circles of authority. A twitter post by Suleyman Yozgaraaslan raised a wave of protest even within the Justice and Development Party (AZK) and the topic was presented for discussion to the RPS Disciplinary Council [19].

Despite the difficulties and challenges, steps taken to ensure safety and support to resolve problems by the Armenian community and local individuals, shows that community organizations assume the functions of the State in the absence of diplomatic relations. Although, till now the threat of the mass deportation of Armenian migrants is only theoretical. Taking into account the unpredictability and the growing nationalism of President Erdogan, the likelihood of that scenario is gradually increasing [20].

Please note that this article is a translation, which has been written originally for readers versed in this topic.

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[1] It’s conditional, since there were also islets of the Armenians in Western Armenia and Cilicia in the territory modern Turkey (as well as descendants of Armenians forcibly Islamized during the Genocide). It won’t be correct to call them community, just because they live in their historical homeland.   

[2] Discussion on the issue of Armenian refugees at Pilk University, Nor Marmara, 14.06.2019

[3] The rules of the game have changed in Turkey: Will they deport the Armenians from the country?

[4] See in the same place.

[[5] Erdogan threatens to deport thousands of Armenians: Armenia condemns

[6]  “Erdogan hinted at the threats of possible deportation of Armenians”, Erdogan threatened to deport Armenians from Turkey again,

[7] In France, April 24 will be declared as the National Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide

[8] E. Macron signed a decree recognizing April 24 as the National Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide

[9] ՊՊՓ-ի կուսակցապետ Տէսթիճիի պատասխանը նախագահ Մաքրոնի, Նոր Մարմարա, 08.02.2019

[10] Անտեղի առաջարկ մը՝ Ա-Գէ-Փէցի երեսփոխանէն. «Երկրէն արտաքսենք ապօրէն կերպով ապրող հայաստանցիները», Նոր Մարմարա, 12.07.2019

[11] See the conversion of the Armenian boy in Turkey and the reactions following it

[12] “This is only the beginning”: about the Armenian woman stabbed in Samatya

[13] Հէ-Տէ-Փէցի Հիւտա Գայա հայաստանցի դաշունահարուած կնոջ հարցը օրակարգի բերաւ խորհրդարանի մէջ, Նոր Մարմարա, 12.06.2019

[14] It refers particularly to the Peoples’ Democratic Party member Hyuda Gaya, who voiced this issue in Turkish Parliament. See in the same place.

[15] The General Vicar of the Armenian Patriarch of Turkey filed a complaint against the broadcaster who carried out the conversion process of Armenian boy

[16] Garo Paylan will file a complaint for the Armenian boy’s conversion, Paylan called this phenomenon the exploitation of minors

[17]  Archbishop Aram Ateshyan visited the stabbed Armenian woman, Nor Marmara, 10.06.2019

[18] Paylan’s post on the Armenian family, Nor Marmara, 13.06.2019

[19] Բողոքի ձայներ «Հայաստանցիները վտարենք» ըսող քաղաքագէտին դէմ, Nor Marmara, 27.07.2019

[20]  The rules of the game have changed in Turkey: Will they deport the Armenians from the country?