Chanya, a correspondent for the independent Georgian daily newspaper Resonants, was killed while reporting on fighting between Abkhaz rebels and Georgian guerrillas near Gali in the separatist region of Abkhazia. He was following a band of guerrillas and was killed during a raid on their camp. His mutilated body, found on May 26, was identified by personal documents he had been carrying. CPJ called on leaders from both sides in the conflict to protect journalists working in armed conflicts and to guarantee their right to practice their profession.