The Kyrgyz-Uzbek University of People’s Friendship: an enduring symbol of inter-ethnic violence

On 12 June 2010, a 1,000-strong crowd of ethnic Kyrgyz looted and burned the Kyrgyz-Uzbek University of People’s Friendship in the centre of Jalal-Abad. The university provided teaching in Uzbek, Kyrgyz and Russian and was a symbol of inter-ethnic understanding. Today, it stands as a stark reminder of the inter-ethnic violence unleashed in June 2010 and that many issues remain unaddressed.

Spravedlivost, a non-governmental organization based in Jalal-Abad in southern Kyrgyzstan, won the 2014 Max van der Stoel Award for its efforts to promote inter-ethnic understanding and restore justice to the many people affected by these events.

Eric Gourlan photographed the ruins.