From Destruction to Revival: French Journalist Tells How Shusha Shatters Western Stereotypes About Azerbaijan

The IV Shusha Global Media Forum "The Mission of Media in Promoting Peace: Restoring Truth and Rebuilding Trust," held just days ago, became a platform where the question of journalism went far beyond the profession itself.

On the sidelines of the media forum, the newspaper "Caspian" spoke with French journalist and founder of the news portal Musulmans en France, Jean-Michel Brun, about war and peace, manipulation and responsibility, destroyed cities, and much more.

- Why does Shusha give the theme of this forum particular power?

- Because Shusha itself is an argument. One can talk at length about peace, trust, truth, and the responsibility of journalism, but in Shusha these words cease to be abstract. Here, every stone has a memory. Here, you can see what happens when truth is pushed to the periphery of international attention for decades.

I first came to Shusha in 2020, right after the war. It was a difficult sight: destruction, traces of occupation, a sense of life violently interrupted. Today I see a different city - one that is returning to breath, culture, movement, humanity. For a journalist, this is a very important experience: you stop working with others' clichés and begin to see reality with your own eyes.

In this sense, the Shusha Media Forum holds unique significance. It was held in a city where truth was wounded but was given the opportunity to return. That is why the theme of restoring trust resonates here with particular conviction. This happens through facts, personal testimony, honest description of what is seen, and the willingness to acknowledge what had been silenced for so long.

- You have met with President Ilham Aliyev four times. Against the backdrop of a forum dedicated to media and trust, what does his style of communication with journalists mean to you?

- For me, this is one of the most telling elements of modern Azerbaijani political culture. I have seen President Ilham Aliyev spend several hours answering journalists' questions: without papers or prompts, without avoiding difficult topics. This makes a strong impression. When a head of state is able to speak about Karabakh, relations with Europe, Turkey, Russia, Iran, Armenia, about energy,