The Russian Revolution of 1917 and the Civil War that followed forced millions of people to leave their homeland. For many who found themselves outside Russia, Istanbul became a first refuge and a transit point on the journey to Europe, the Balkans, the Americas and other parts of the world.
In 1920, the city received a large influx of Russian refugees. According to the American Red Cross, more than three million people emigrated from Russia during the revolutionary years. Around 200,000 Russian refugees passed through Istanbul, many staying for a time before continuing their journeys.
Although the period of significant Russian emigre presence was relatively brief — from 1920 to 1927 — these newcomers left a visible mark on the life of the city.
Their influence could be seen in its culture, social life and fashion, while some of their customs and traditions became part of everyday life in Turkey.
The destinies of the émigrés took many different paths. Some moved on to Europe, North and South America, the Balkans or Asia. Others chose to remain in Turkey.
For many, Istanbul was not the final destination, but a temporary stopping place between the life they had left behind and an uncertain future.
About 200,000 Russian refugees passed through Istanbul, which served as a transit point.
As J. D. Quirk wrote, the Russian émigrés brought to the city “light, bright colours, comedy, beauty, music, passion and hope.”
Created in collaboration with DOST Theatre in Istanbul, this photographic project seeks to evoke the atmosphere of that era. Through period costumes, characters and scenes of everyday life, it offers a visual reflection on the people whose lives were tran
Yet not everyone was able to find a new home. Those who remained in Turkey and reached the end of their lives there found their final resting place in the Greek cemetery in Istanbul’s Şişli district.
Beyond the Photographs
To learn more about the later lives of the émigrés and their families, I recommend the documentary books by Marina Sigirci, whose research preserves personal stories and memories of that time.
The story of Russian emigration did not end in Istanbul.
My visit to the historic Greek cemetery in Şişli with Marina brought me closer to the human stories behind this photographic reconstruction.
