Struggle For Chechen Independence

Spot News, first prize stories

00-01-1995

January saw some of the fiercest fighting since the start of the struggle for Chechen independence. After failed negotiations to persuade Chechnya to recognize Moscow's authority, President Yeltsin sent in the army on December 1994. But the troops were badly motivated and poorly equipped, and the battle for the capital of Grozny raged for weeks. Thousands lost their lives and many more became homeless. With three-quarters of the population disapproving of his policies, Yeltsin's popularity reached an all-time low.

Commissioned by: Sygma for Newsweek

Photo Credit: Patrick Chauvel

Patrick Chauvel (born 1949 in France) is an independent war photographer whose career began when he was just 17 years old.

He has covered more than twenty conflicts all over the world, including the Six-Day War and the Vietnam War. In 1995 he was awarded the World Press Photo commendation for Spot News Stories for his coverage of the Battle of Grozny during the First Chechen War.

He is also author of some documentary movies.

On 21 December 1989 during the Invasion of Panama he was critically wounded to the belly by two rounds shot by Marines; Juan Antonio Rodriguez (El Pais) was killed.

After the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, he allegedly saw time stamped photographs from a speed camera showing the Mercedes entering the fatal tunnel.