2026 marks the 110th anniversary of the Urkun tragedy.

To mark this anniversary, a memorial hike will be held from July 25 to 31 from the village of Tosor in Issyk-Kul region to Sook pass. The organizers are Esimde research site and the local organization Tosor Koomu. This is the sixth joint memorial hike held by these organizations.

The main goal of the event is to honor the memory of the victims of the tragic events of 1916, preserve the historical memory of Urkun, and pass it on to future generations.

Furthermore, the hike aims to draw attention to historical sites associated with Urkun, promote their preservation in public memory, and develop a culture of remembrance.

The memorial hike is intended not only to reflect on the tragic pages of history but also to emphasize the importance of preventing similar events from happening again.

Participants will follow one of the routes used by those fleeing during the tragedy in 1916.

The route of the hike expands annually, and this year its total length will be approximately 100 kilometers. Approximately 50 people from various regions of Kyrgyzstan, as well as from neighboring countries, will participate in the event.

Before the start of the hike, a commemorative event will be held on July 25, open to everyone. It will include a prayer (Koran recitation) in memory of the Urkun victims and a tree-planting ceremony, after which participants of the memorial hike will begin their journey.