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On the first day of April war French-Armenian photographer Max Sivaslyan took his camera and headed for Artsakh frontline. Although he spent no much time on the frontline, many photos he took there reflect war scenes. He continued taking photos after April 5 arrangement to cease the fire to show the face of the war and the established peace. Those photos earned a place in history.

Born in France Max has established in Armenia since 1992 to cover the Artsakh war. First, he has lived in Artsakh for two years, then permanently moved to Armenia. 

He is the correspondent of the ""Nouvelles d'Armenie" magazine and the photo correspondent of armenenews.com portal.

Max Sivaslyan shares his experience in Artsakh back in 1990s. He recalls that those times few photojournalists were on the battlefield, while during April escalation number of photojournalists were working on the frontline, especially foreign ones, which is important for telling the truth on what was going on the ground to the world.

Sivaslyan spoke with Panorama.am reporter, saying the photos taken during the two wars reflect the cruelest face of war. He then shared his latest experience during the Four Day war in early April.

“18-20 years old are quite strong and ready to face any hardship. It is quite surprising to see them resisting the enemy and prevent their infiltration into our territory. That was heroism. Now many volunteers are on the frontline, more experienced and the young boys are certainly encouraged by their presence. I am confident the April war served a good lesson for Azerbaijanis,” Sivaslyan says.

The story of one photo

The photo was taken in 1993; the surgeon is Valeri Marutyan, the founder of Artsakh field surgery.

“Two journalists from Scandinavian countries visited Artsakh in 1993 and wished to shoot a surgery being performed during a war. They visited the time Doctor Marutyan was performing a surgery of a severely wounded soldier. Marutyan allowed taking just one photo. That was winter. The surgical table was next to a wooden furnace. The first journalist entered the room and started adjusting his camera for taking the photos without a look at the table. The second journalist followed him. That was the first time I was present at a surgery as well. After a few whiles I saw one of the journalist fainted over the scene of the surgical table. People around started bringing him into senses. We left the surgery room. I managed to take a photo of the scene and it went down in history,” Sivaslyan recalls.

Episodes from Artsakh Liberation War

The photographer was sharing recollections, drawing parallels between the two wars. “In 1992 I was not sure we would liberate Shushi having in possession no many weapons, yet we did it. During April war I was sure we would win,” he said.

At this time the photographer visited Talish, Eghnikner, and Mataghis.

The latest photos by Max Silvaslyan feature war and peace.

He singled out the one that fully transferred the essence of the war.