Displacement and Belonging: Redefining ‘Homeland’ and ‘Return’ among Crimean Tatars

Abstract

This article examines Crimean Tatar perceptions of ‘homeland’ and ‘return’ following the 2014 annexation of Crimea, contrasting these views with those of Crimean Tatars in exile after the 1944 deportation. I argue that while nearly all aspects of homeland perception among exiled Crimean Tatars – such as an identity marker, a mythologized final destination, and the place where their community reside – are still evident in the narratives of those displaced after 2014, their emphasis and meaning have shifted. For those displaced post-2014, Crimea is primarily viewed as the place where their community lives and where most aspire to return. This article is based on interviews with Crimean Tatar internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ukraine and forced migrants abroad, contributing to broader discussions on agency, displacement and belonging.