Chechnya Diary

Chechnya Diary

Thomas Goltz is a member of the exclusive journalistic cadre of compulsive, danger-addicted voyeurs who court death to get the story. But in addition to providing a tour through the convoluted Soviet and then post-Soviet nationalities policy that led to the bloodbath in Chechnya, is part of a larger exploration of the role (and impact) of the media in conflict areas. And at its heart, is the story of Hussein, the leader of the local resistance in the small town that bears the brunt of the massacre as it is drawn into war.

This is a deeply personal book, a first person narrative that reads like an adventure but addresses larger theoretical issues ranging from the history of ethnic/nationalities in the USSR and the Russian Federation to journalistic responsibility in crisis zones. is a crossover work that offers both the historical context and a ground-level view of a complex and brutal war.