status of permanent residency. In the 2002 Russian Federation census, 1,542 people identified themselves as Hamshenis, two-thirds of whom were living in Krasnodar Krai. Recognition by the Armenian mainstream From October 13 to 15, 2005, a Hamsheni international scientific convention was held in Sochi. The conference was organized under the Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences of Armenia, Russian-Armenian Commonwealth Organization of Moscow (commissioned by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation) with help from the Armenian Scientific Informational and Cultural Center, "Hamshen" (Krasnodar, Russia) and Russian Armenian newspaper Yerkramas. It involved scholars from Armenia, Russia, the United States, Germany, and Iran to discuss the past of the Hamshenis. Notable Hamshenis Politicians in Turkey Ministers Murat Karayalçın (b. 1943) – politician who served as minister of foreign affairs, deputy prime minister, mayor of Ankara and the founder of the SHP. Tevfik İleri (1911–1961) – statesman who served as deputy prime minister, minister of national education, minister of public works and minister of transport. Mesut Yılmaz (1947–2020) – politician who has held ministerial positions such as minister of culture and tourism, minister of state and deputy prime minister, including prime ministry also chairman of Motherland Party. Other Alper Taş (b. 1967) – socialist politician and leader of Left Party Besim Tibuk (b. 1945) – businessman, liberal politician and chairman of LDP of Laz origin with probably have some Hamsheni roots Cihan Alptekin (1947–1972) – political activist, revolutionary and militant who was leader of left-wing organisations such as People's Liberation Army of Turkey and Revolutionary Youth Federation of Turkey. Popular culture Behçet Gülas (b. 1977) – singer and musician Gökhan Birben Aydoğan Topal (b. 1982) – singer who is half Hamsheni Tulum artists Yaşar Çorbacıoğlu (b. 1939) Remzi Bekar (b. 1937) Dindar Güner (1942–2021) Emin Yağcı (b. 1965) Mahmut Turan (b. 1958) Other Özcan Alper (b. 1975) – director and screenwriter Cemil Aksu (b. 1977) – political and social activist, journalist and ecologist See also Amatuni Armenians in Turkey Armeno-Tats Cherkesogai Christianity in Turkey Chveneburi Crypto-Armenians Empire of Trebizond Islam in Armenia Laz people Minorities in Turkey Pontic Greeks Principality of Hamamshen References Bibliography Further reading External links , a multi-lingual discussion forum on Hamshen topics. An interview with the director of Momi on the film and Hamshenis. Features Hamsheni words and their Turkish equivalents. Ethnic Armenian Muslims Ethnic groups in Russia Ethnic groups in Turkey History of Rize Province Turkish people of