Witness: Picturing the demise of the Soviet Union

1 of 8. Russian President Boris Yeltsin (C) looks back, as he file's photo in this 21 December 1991 at the inaugural meeting of the Commonwealth of independent States (CIS) in Almaty.IMG credit: Reuters/Shamil Zhumatov


The following story reminds the experiences of Reuters photographer Shamil Zhumatov, when the leaders of the new independent post-Soviet republics in his native city of Alma-Ata 1991 collected. Zhumatov is for the last 17 years of Reuters photographer in formerly Soviet Central Asia and has also wars in Afghanistan and the Iraq fall. He lived the first twenty years of his life in the Soviet Union and the second 20 years as a citizen of Kazakhstan.

By Shamil Zhumatov

ALMATY (Reuters) - we had the Soviet Union, was always intended, certainly too big to fail.
We had seen all the bare shelves in stores. We knew that many constituent republics had declared their independence. But that was still my almighty Soviet Union, the only country the this 20-year-old a-old photojournalist from Kazakhstan ever known had.

So why had 10 national leaders crashed in my capital, Alma-Ata, on 21 December 1991? Who were these hordes of journalists and photographers jostling for position and called questions?

It was one of my first assignments for the Kazakh Telegraph Agency. The night before, I was sitting in the Agency darkroom splicing 300 M rolls of film, and with great care in cartridges, add 36 exposure at a time.
We work with factory-made film roles; This was the Soviet Union. Careful preparation was part of the work, especially before any major event.

And that was certainly great. Only a few opportunities to photograph national leaders had even experienced colleagues. Party congresses, parades, even new year's Eve: this happened in Moscow, events that we saw on television.

Less than two weeks earlier, the leaders had the Russia, the Ukraine and divine-the Slavic core of Sowjetunion--the agreement dissolved with the country and created the Commonwealth of independent States (CIS).

Although the Alliance with other republics closed was not when we heard in Central Asia of which we feel cast out and betrayed. Are not also a say in the fate of our country should be? The excitement and the freedom of independence would come later; right now, we were shocked children clinging to the coat tails of our parent company.
What if?
Nursultan Nazarbayev, the President of the independent Kazakhstan, mobilized quickly to ensure that our country and a host of other new independent republics in the fold have been brought.
He met a leader after the other on the snow-covered airport as they came, that sign Declaration that would bring the number of countries in the grouping to 11.

It seemed that everyone who arrived, was in a hurry. Even now, when I edit my images, I see the worry on the faces of Kazakh statesmen of the time etched. Offers what if someone were suddenly to change their minds, crack had removed security Moscow always?

Two lonely demonstrators stand on the snow outside the Hall where the signing posters loudly would take place at the end of the Soviet Union. "Shame on the destroyers of the USSR", said one. "Down with the CIS countries!"

Our common Soviet heritage was all that what we are connected. The name of the new Alliance sound strange. We can learn to appreciate the idea of "independent States". But a "Commonwealth"? Between a number of ethnically different countries two outrun - Armenia and Aserbaidschan--were already involved in a brutal conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh?

Inside the grandiose ceremony had begun. Never before I had seen, collected as many KGB officers in one place. 9. Department which was responsible for guarding dignitaries had to respect a lot of people.
And so many journalists! Some photographers brought climbing ladders over the mass-a device that I would use in the next few years numerous times, but something that I had never seen before that day.
The Russian President Boris Yeltsin was the most charismatic all leaders present. Its Worte-- and he said perhaps - have been accompanied by animated gestures. People shouted questions at him on the move. A photographer, he was a great theme.

In a good sense of Yeltsin's individual style with that of the rank officials around him. Even the trilby, he carried was in contrast to the thick fur hats of other heads of State and Government.
After the signing of the contract was the heads of State and Government for a group photo. A journalist to Yeltsin shouted: "How you feel?"

He grinned and gave the thumbs up. With a single click, I realized my mechanical Nikon F2 was that a new time on us. I was recording the history.

STRANGE MOVIE

Before writing this article, I was my old black and white negative in a photo shop in Almaty, scanning, such as Alma-Ata now called. The other customers were photographed out on their cell phone print.
"What a strange film!" "I the perforations can see picture number along", said the curious cashiers, too young to roles, reminiscent of the 300 m I once worked.

At 40, I've now spent half of my life in the Soviet Union and half in independent Kazakhstan. The second two decades have brought unimaginable changes during the first.

The Soviet Union has given me much to be grateful: education, which today could not be reached, and the well built blocks of flats that call my parents always still home.

But gone are the fear and Unsicherheit--my own and Kasachstan--I remember this day in December 1991. They were replaced by a maturity and independence that comes from before and to overcome your challenges.

We have both grown up.
(Writing by Robin Paxton;) (Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)