
Forsaken Heritage: How Mismanagement and Secrecy Led to the Destruction of Kyrgyz Historical Treasures
Renovating Kyrgyzstan’s top museum was supposed to take 18 months. Five years later, a fire has destroyed valuable exhibits, the museum has been engulfed in scandals, and curators say the authorities covered up the problems inside the institution.
Fountains spray on the square in front of the National History Museum of Kyrgyzstan, seen here in January 2018 after repairs of its distinctive facade. The Soviet modernist building is one of the most iconic structures in Bishkek. (Credit: Azat Ruziev/Kloop)