Participants of 3rd Shusha Global Media Forum visit historical sites of Shusha

The participants of the third Shusha Global Media Forum under the theme “Digital Pathways: Strengthening Information and Media Resilience in the Age of AI”, have today visited the city of Shusha.

During the trip, the guests first visited several historical sites of Shusha, including the bullet-riddled monuments of the prominent Azerbaijani personalities, such as Uzeyir Hajibayli, Bulbul, and Khurshidbanu Natavan, located in the central square of the city. They were informed that during the occupation, the Armenian side had planned to transport the statues to Armenia to be melted down. However, thanks to the efforts of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, the statues were recovered from Armenia, brought back to Azerbaijan, and temporarily placed in the courtyard of the Museum of Art in Baku. Following the liberation of Shusha, the statues were restored to their original locations.

The participants then visited the walls of the Shusha Fortress, and the Museum Masouleum of Molla Panah Vagif.

They also visited notable historical and religious sites, including the Ashaghi Govhar Agha Mosque, built in 1874–1875 by architect Karbalayi Safikhan Karabakhi.

Following the liberation of Shusha, restoration efforts for the mosques were launched immediately under the instructions of President Ilham Aliyev. The restoration of the Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque - a major historical and religious landmark that had been subjected to Armenian vandalism - began in late 2021 under the leadership of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. The mosque was reopened on May 10, 2023, after extensive reconstruction and restoration work. President Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, and their family members attended the opening ceremony.

The Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque is listed among Azerbaijan’s monuments of national historical and cultural significance.