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The Kyrgyz people inTurkey arrived in Turkey in small groups as a result of invasion of Central Asia by Russian Empire during the 20th century.[1]
TheKyrgyz community that lives inUlupamir ofErcişilçe (district) inVan Province have paid particular attention to protect their language. As these people have been living here since 1980s, they sometimes are called as Kyrgyz ofVan. There are approximately 5,000 people in this community. The historical background of these people is related to the Pamir region ofAfghanistan. There is another Kyrgyz community living in Turkey. Another group of Kyrgyz people in Turkey moved either to Istanbul city or returned to the Pamir region in Afghanistan.[1] InBob Dylan's autobiography, Chronicles: Volume One, Dylan wrote that his paternal grandmother's maiden name was Kirghiz and her family originated from the Kağızman district of Kars Province in northeastern Turkey.[citation needed]
Although most of the Kyrgyz tribes (boy in Turkish) inIstanbul city, Turkey, Ulupamir village is significantly important in terms of density of Kyrgyz people that live here. There are many similarities between these people and Kyrgyz people of Kyrgyzstan in terms of their culture. Despite the fact, Kyrgyz community of Turkey has been also affected by the local population of Turkey so that their language is slightly different from the language of Kyrgyz inKyrgyzstan.[2][3]
The largest association of Kyrgyz people in Turkey is Kyrgyz Turks Culture and Solidarity Association.[4]