Russian pundit: World wants to understand Azerbaijan’s formula for victory

The 3rd Shusha Global Media Forum presents a unique opportunity to hear directly from the leader of a victorious nation — President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan — and to engage in dialogue with media representatives from across the globe.

This perspective was shared with journalists by Russian political scientist Sergey Markov, Director of the Institute for Political Studies of the Russian Federation, during the forum's opening day, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

Markov emphasised that his main interest at the event is the forthcoming address by President Ilham Aliyev.

“Ilham Heydarovich is undoubtedly one of the most seasoned and effective leaders of our era,” Markov stated. “He heads a nation that has emerged victorious in war and fully restored its territorial integrity. There are very few such examples in the modern world. Global leaders are eager to understand the foundations of this success and draw lessons from it. We too are keen to raise these questions with the president. He is known to be wise, competent, and principled, and we look forward to engaging in a thoughtful exchange with him.”

The political scientist also highlighted the forum’s value as a venue for international media collaboration and the exchange of ideas.

“This global media forum gathers truly interesting and diverse professionals. I recall being struck during the last forum by one of the surveys conducted—it asked which sources of information participants used most frequently. I had assumed Telegram was most dominant in Russia, but it turned out that approximately 70% of journalists and experts from various countries also relied primarily on Telegram. This reveals that Telegram has become a principal source of information for media professionals around the world,” he noted.

The 3rd Shusha Global Media Forum is slated to kick off today, July 19, and will continue through July 21. Held annually in the historic city of Shusha, Azerbaijan, the forum serves as a dynamic international platform for addressing the pressing challenges facing the global media industry.

Since its inception in July 2023, the forum has focused on key themes including digital transformation, disinformation, media sustainability, and the evolving role of journalism in a rapidly changing world. It convenes a wide range of participants—journalists, policymakers, scholars, and representatives of international organisations—to foster dialogue, share experiences, and promote international cooperation.

The inaugural forum, themed “New Media in the Era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” was dedicated to the “Year of Heydar Aliyev” and marked the 148th anniversary of the Azerbaijani National Press. It explored the intersection of technological innovation and journalism, covering topics such as media management, digital tools, countering fake news, and the safety of journalists.

This year's forum is dedicated to the theme “Digital Transitions: Strengthening Information and Media Resilience in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”.

By Tamilla Hasanova