Photo chronicle of 1990s independence, civil war on display at National Archives

A National Archives of Georgia exhibition is hosting viewers to a retrospective collection of photographs that chronicle the independence movement, civil and regional conflict in Georgia in the 1990s.

Selected from vaults of the former Sakinformi Soviet-era news agency, the exhibits take a look back at the turmoil in the country in the few years that saw major shift from the USSR to sovereignty.

The overview has been titled Photo Diaries: the 1990s and incorporates photographs of civil protests during the final years of the Soviet Union as well as proclamation of independence of Georgia in 1991.

A photograph showing a toppled monument of Vladimir Lenin following the dissolution of the USSR. Photo: National Archives of Georgia.

The chronicles also document the December 1991 armed coup against the newly elected government as well as the following civil war and the 1992-1993 war in the country’s north-western region of Abkhazia.

Names of photographers who captured crucial civil, political and social developments during the years have in many cases been lost to history.

See a slideshow of some of the photographs selected for the display.

Their work however, has obtained "particular historical, emotional [and] informational significance”, note organisers of the display authored by film director Nana Janelidze.

Launched last week, the exhibition will be on display at the archives’ Exhibition Pavilion through Friday.