Contribution short abstract:

The research examines the Soviet toponymic changes as part of the Crimean Tatars' genocide, that erased their culture and history from Crimea. Today, as debates about Crimea's future intensify, it is vital to amplify indigenous voices and acknowledge their rightful place in the peninsula’s history.

Contribution long abstract:

The paper explores the Soviet campaign of toponymic alteration in Crimea after the deportation of the Crimean Tatars in 1944, illustrating how this deliberate erasure of indigenous place names altered the peninsula's identity and history. By replacing Crimean Tatar toponyms with artificial Soviet names, Moscow constructed a new ideological landscape that legitimized settler-colonial narratives and erased the Tatars from the peninsula’s memory.

This topic is particularly timely as discussions about the future of Crimea gain momentum amid potential negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Understanding the historical processes behind the erasure of the Crimean Tatars’ history is critical to navigating these conversations. The Crimean Tatars’ case highlights the profound power of toponymy in shaping collective memory and its role in ongoing struggles for cultural and historical justice.

Today, reclaiming these historical toponyms is not merely symbolic but an act of resistance against continued cultural erasure under occupation and a way to make silenced voices heard in the global arena. However, this research faces ethical and methodological challenges, as the peninsula remains under occupation where deliberate suppression and erasure of indigenous culture continue.

By addressing these issues, this talk aims to amplify the often-overlooked voice of the Crimean Tatars, offering insights into the peninsula’s decolonized history. It contributes to broader discussions on cultural preservation, historical justice, and the ethical responsibilities of reconstructing silenced narratives in contested landscapes.