“Molla Nasreddin” journal, published in Baku, was a courageous journal to challenge dogmatic principles, bigotry of that time, and illiteracy, also contributing to the development of Azerbaijani language. This was more than a challenge - a true psychological war, said Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, as he addressed the opening ceremony of the 3rd Shusha Global Media Forum under the theme “Digital Pathways: Strengthening Information and Media Resilience in the Age of AI.”

Recalling the widespread disinformation against Azerbaijan during the 44-day Patriotic War, the Assistant to the President highlighted the significant efforts made by journalists to challenge these campaigns.

Noting that the 3rd Shusha Global Media Forum addresses the pressing issues, including the importance of artificial intelligence, Hikmet Hajiyev stated: “The truth has changed and is under serious threat. Facts and figures fail to convey the full story. People are increasingly choosing belief over facts,” he mentioned.

Highlighting the ongoing waves of disinformation against Azerbaijan, Hikmet Hajiyev said the poor management of social media can lead to chaos. He emphasized that international organizations need to pay attention to the ethical side of artificial intelligence. “Today, we are talking about digital media, and it is changing the way we think. Humanity has created a new way of thinking, a platform that thinks like us," Hajiyev underscored.