In Kyrgyzstan, a fight to keep alive the memory of a century-old massacre by Russian forces

In 1916, Russian forces swept into modern-day Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan to enlist Central Asians to fight for Russia in World War I. The Russians killed an estimated 15,000 people who resisted, and some 100,000 more people died trying to flee to China. More than a century later, the episode still isn’t talked about much because of pressure from Russia to literally erase it from the history books. Levi Bridges reports from Kyrgyzstan on what it means to remember this painful passage in the country today. 

Help keep The World going strong!

The article you just read is free because dedicated readers and listeners like you chose to support our nonprofit newsroom. Our team works tirelessly to ensure you hear the latest in international, human-centered reporting every weekday. But our work would not be possible without you. We need your help.

Make a gift today to help us reach our $25,000 goal and keep The World going strong. Every gift will get us one step closer.