The authors of International exhibition devoted to Chechen War nominated for prestigious Pulitzer Prize.

The representation of Chechen Republic Ichkeriya in France and Information Agency “Ichkeriya-info” nominated Dr. Sergey Melnikoff, famous human rights activist, American photographer and author of Internet-project “The Chronicles of Hell” and Natalya Medvedeva, Russian photojournalist and author of the International exhibition “Russia is
indicted of Genocide!” for prestigious Pulitzer Prize. The exhibition is devoted to Chechen War where Natalya spent seven years. Hundred feats of her films are the undeniable documentary witness of Russian genocide at Caucasus: a shell crater where the Finnish House was – former health center in mountainous region of Ho-Kizinoy, the refugees – women and children – were hiding there; a man grasping child foot – the only fragment of his daughter’s body he found. Later reports from front will announce about attack on rebel’s camp and a military man will be awarded for successful war operation. As for a few refugees survived they will stay there surrounded by the graves – wives, children, sisters lost in one moment. Their remains were reduced to ashes long time ago but memory about them is still alive at the photos made by Russian woman photographer.

Who worked under the pounding of shells and bullets, at places men were afraid to go to, at places she could not come back from. But each time she was back – from the camp of rebels where she shot photos of warlord Shamil Bosaev, from forest where rebels wanted to shoot her confusing her with a Russian spy. She was back from Budenovsk – town of Dagestan where Bosaev’s rebels took hostages in a local maternity hospital. Natalya Medvedeva proposed herself in exchange for hostages. In Budenvsk she was wounded in head. Films shot by the courageous woman-journalist there shocked the whole world. The former Russian president Boris Yeltsin wanted to reward her for courage but she refused to take award from the hands of Chechen children killer. Many time laying on the grass when the land was trembling from bombing she promised herself to leave this Chechen hell for peaceful Russian capital where people still traveled by underground to the homes, offices, theaters and cinemas. They didn’t hear the sounds of bombs and bullets that were heard here in Chechnya – at the territory of Russian Federation. When the fire was over she got up, shacked the dust of her clothe and… went to the hell again. Her photos are full of death, pain and suffering but you need to see it and get to know the face of war, remember it and give your voice for democracy.

If you want to support Sergey Melnikoff and Natalya Medvedeva send your messages to the editorial of “The Chronicles of Hell” Project.

“The Chronicles of Hell” http://exhibition.ipvnews.org