Shusha, July 22, 2025 – The Europe Today: As part of the third Shusha Global Media Forum, held under the theme “Digital Pathways: Strengthening Information and Media Resilience in the Age of AI”, international participants today visited the historic city of Shusha to witness firsthand the cultural revival of Azerbaijan’s iconic city following its liberation.
The visit began at the central square of Shusha, where the guests viewed bullet-riddled monuments of prominent Azerbaijani figures — composer Uzeyir Hajibayli, renowned singer Bulbul, and poetess Khurshidbanu Natavan. Forum participants were informed that during the period of Armenian occupation, these statues had been removed and were intended to be melted down in Armenia. However, through the efforts of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, the statues were recovered, returned to Azerbaijan, and temporarily housed in the courtyard of the Museum of Art in Baku. Following the liberation of Shusha, the statues were restored to their original locations, symbolizing cultural resilience and national pride.
The delegation also visited the historic walls of the Shusha Fortress and the Mausoleum Museum of Molla Panah Vagif — a prominent Azerbaijani poet and statesman.
The tour continued with visits to significant religious and architectural landmarks, including the Ashaghi Govhar Agha Mosque, constructed between 1874 and 1875 by the famed architect Karbalayi Safikhan Karabakhi.
Forum participants were briefed on the extensive post-liberation restoration works undertaken under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev. Particular attention was drawn to the restoration of the Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque — one of Azerbaijan’s major religious and cultural monuments — which had suffered damage and desecration during the occupation. Reconstruction efforts, initiated in late 2021 under the auspices of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, culminated in the mosque’s grand reopening on May 10, 2023. President Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, and their family members attended the opening ceremony.
The Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque is officially recognized as a monument of national historical and cultural significance and stands today as a symbol of Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage, restoration efforts, and resilience in the face of adversity.
