Ministry of Defence (Azerbaijan) facts for kids
| Azərbaycan Respublikasının Müdafiə Nazirliyi | |
Official emblem of the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry
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|
 Zakir Hasanov |
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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 5 September 1991 |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Azerbaijan |
| Headquarters | 3 Parliament Avenue, Baku, 1073 |
| Minister responsible |
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| Agency executive |
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| Parent department | Ministry of Defense of the Soviet Union (union wide) Ministry of Defence of the ADR (in Azerbaijan) |
The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan Respublikasının Müdafiə Nazirliyi) is a government office in Azerbaijan. It works closely with the Azerbaijani military. This ministry is in charge of keeping Azerbaijan safe from outside dangers. It also protects the country's land and watches over its part of the Caspian Sea and skies. The Minister of Defense is chosen by the President of Azerbaijan. The President is also the Commander-in-chief of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.
The main building for the ministry is in Baku. You can find it at 3 Parliament Avenue.
Contents
How the Ministry of Defence Started
The first person to lead the defense efforts in the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was General Khosrov bey Sultanov. He was appointed Minister on May 28, 1918. The plan was to build a strong army by November 1, 1919. This included creating different army groups.
The government also wanted to set up a proper Ministry of Defense. Khosrov bey Sultanov acted as the minister for a short time. The Ministry of Defense was officially created on October 23, 1918. Fatali-khan Khoyski became the first official Minister of Defense.
Later, on December 26, 1918, Lieutenant General Samad bey Mehmandarov took over. He had a deputy, Lieutenant General Aliagha Shikhlinski. The Ministry of Defense was closed in 1920 when Azerbaijan became part of the Soviet Union. Its duties were given to a different group. Many army generals from Azerbaijan were executed at that time. A new army, the Azerbaijani Red Army, was formed.
In the late 1980s, as the Soviet Union was breaking apart, Azerbaijan's military played a big role. It helped the country gain and keep its independence. The current Ministry of Defense was officially started on September 5, 1991. This happened after a decision by Azerbaijan's High Council. A month later, on October 9, the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan were established.
Who Leads the Ministry
The Ministry of Defence has several important leaders:
- Minister of Defense: Colonel General Zakir Hasanov
- Chief of the General Staff and First Deputy Minister of Defence: Lieutenant General Karim Valiyev
- Deputy Minister of Defence and Commander of the Combined Arms Army: Colonel General Kerem Mustafayev
- Deputy Minister of Defence and Chief of Main Department for Personnel: Lieutenant General Karim Valiyev
- Acting Deputy Minister of Defense for Logistics and Chief of the Main Department of Logistics: Lieutenant General Nizam Osmanov
- Deputy Minister of Defence and Commander of the Air Force: Lieutenant General Ramiz Tahirov
- Deputy Minister of Defense and Commander of the Land Forces: Lieutenant General Hikmat Mirzayev
How the Ministry is Organized
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The ministry is set up with different departments to handle its many tasks:
- Central Command Post
- Main Department of Personnel
- Office for Women and Families of Servicemen
- Military Band Service
- Main Department of Logistics
- Main Department of Combat Training and Military Education
- Main Medical Department
- Organization and Mobilization Department
- Department of Staff
- Department for Ideological Work and Moral-Psychological Support
- Legal Department
- Department of Finance and Budget
- Department of Affairs
- Department for Municipal Services
- Department for Defence Procurement and Equipment
- Baku Garrison
- Military Police
- Institutions
- "Azərbaycan Ordusu" newspaper
- Central Clinical Hospital
- Research Center
- Center for Documentary and Educational Films of the Azerbaijan Army
- Military Scientific Center
- Center for War Games of the Armed Forces
- Army Ideological and Cultural Center named after Hazi Aslanov
- Song and Dance Ensemble
- Ideological and Cultural Center of the Ganja Garrison
- Azerbaijan Military History Museum
- MOIK Baku
Military Schools and Training
The Ministry of Defense also runs several schools and training centers:
- Military academies
- War College of the Armed Forces
- Training and Education Center of the Armed Forces
- Azerbaijan Higher Military Academy
- Azerbaijan Higher Naval Academy (used to be separate)
- Azerbaijan High Military Aviation School (used to be separate)
- Other educational institutions
- Secondary Military Medical School of Azerbaijan
- Military Medical Faculty of Azerbaijan Medical University
- Military lyceums
- Jamshid Nakhchivanski Military Lyceum
- Heydar Aliyev Military Lyceum
These schools help train skilled and patriotic staff for the armed forces. They make sure soldiers have the knowledge needed to defend Azerbaijan.
Working with Other Countries
The Ministry of Defence works with other countries in many ways. This is called international military cooperation.
- Working with countries in the region and beyond.
- Partnering with groups like NATO.
- Cooperating with international organizations.
- Improving military security systems together.
- Learning about new programs and ways of working.
- Taking part in inspections to build trust with other countries.
- Working to prevent and manage conflicts.
- Fighting international terrorism.
- Training military personnel for peacekeeping missions.
Working with OSCE
The Ministry of Defense helps the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe). They work together to watch the ceasefire line between Armenia and Azerbaijan. They also monitor the state border.
Working with NATO
Azerbaijan joined NATO's "Partnership for Peace" program in 1994. They also joined NATO's planning process in 1996. Azerbaijan takes part in NATO military training programs. These programs help improve training for officers and sergeants. Azerbaijan has also helped in NATO missions in Kosovo and Afghanistan. They continue to send peacekeepers to Afghanistan. NATO also advises Azerbaijan on defense plans. They help Azerbaijan organize its military units to meet NATO standards.
Working with ICRC
The Ministry of Defense works with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). They provide learning materials on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) for the armed forces. They also hold training sessions and seminars on IHL for soldiers. The ICRC checks on people living near conflict areas. They help create good living conditions for them. They also work together to arrange and deliver humanitarian aid.
Past Ministers of Defence
Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR)
| № | President | Term of office | Political party | Government | Elected | Ref | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Days | |||||
| 1 |  |
Khosrov bey Sultanov Xosrov bəy Sultanov (1879–1947) |
27 May 1918 | 11 June 1918 | 15 | Ittihad |
1. Rasulzade I | 1918 | |
| Helped establish early military divisions. | |||||||||
| 2 |  |
Fatali Khan Khoyski Fətəli-xan Xoyski (1875–1920) |
7 November 1918 | 25 December 1918 | 48 | Independent |
2. Topchubashov I | 1918 | |
| 3 |  |
Samad bey Mehmandarov Səməd bəy Mehmandarov (1855–1931) |
25 December 1918 | 28 April 1920 | 731 | Independent |
3. Topchubashov I | 1918 | |
Heads of Military Department of Azerbaijan SSR
People's Commissars for Military and Naval Affairs of Azerbaijan SSR
| № | Chairman | Term of office | Political party | Government | Elected | Ref | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Days | |||||
| 1 |  |
Chingiz Ildyrym Çingiz İldırım (1890–1938) |
28 April 1920 | 5 June 1920 | 38 | Communist (Bolsheviks) |
1. Hüseynov I | — | |
| 2 |  |
Aliheydar Garayev Aliheydar Garayev (1896–1938) |
5 June 1920 | 20 June 1920 | 15 | Communist (Bolsheviks) |
2. Hüseynov I | — | |
Azerbaijan Republic
| № | President | Term of office | Political party | Government | Elected | Ref | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Days | |||||
| 1 | Valeh Barshadly Valeh Bərşadlı (1927–1999) |
5 September 1991 | 11 December 1991 | 97 | Military |
Mütəllibov II | 1991 | ||
| Helped prevent military equipment from being destroyed. | |||||||||
| 2 | Tajeddin Mehdiyev Tacəddin Mehdiyev (19??–) |
11 December 1991 | 17 February 1992 | 68 | Military |
Mütəllibov II | 1971 | ||
| – | Shahin Musayev (Acting) Şahin Musayev (19??–) |
17 February 1992 | 24 February 1992 | 7 | Military |
– | – | ||
| 3 | Tahir Aliyev Tahir Əliyev (1952–) |
24 February 1992 | 16 March 1992 | 21 | Military |
– | 1992 | ||
| 4 |  |
Rahim Gaziyev Rəhim Qazıyev (1943–) |
17 March 1992 | 20 February 1993 | 340 | Azerbaijani Popular Front Party |
4. Elçibəy I | 1992 | |
| 5 | Dadash Rzayev Dadaş Rzayev (1935–2024) |
20 February 1993 | 17 June 1993 | 147 | Azerbaijani Popular Front Party |
5. Elçibəy I | 1993 | ||
| – |  |
Safar Abiyev (Acting) Səfər Əbiyev (1950–) |
17 June 1993 | 7 August 1993 | 51 | New Azerbaijan Party |
– | – | |
| – | Vahid Musayev (Acting) Vahid Musayev (1947–1999) |
7 August 1993 | 25 August 1993 | 18 | New Azerbaijan Party |
– | – | ||
| 6 | Mammadrafi Mammadov Məmmədrəfi Məmmədov (1942–) |
2 September 1993 | 6 February 1995 | 522 | New Azerbaijan Party |
6. H.Əliyev II | 1993 | ||
| 7 | |
Safar Abiyev Səfər Əbiyev (1950–) |
6 February 1995 | 22 October 2013 | 6833 | New Azerbaijan Party |
7. H.Əliyev II | 1995 | |
| Signed military agreements with other countries. | |||||||||
| 8 |  |
Zakir Hasanov Zakir Həsənov (1959–) |
22 October 2013 | 4260 | New Azerbaijan Party |
8. İ.Əliyev I | 2013 | ||
See Also
- Azerbaijani Armed Forces
- Military history of Azerbaijan
- Prime Minister of Azerbaijan
- Cabinet of Azerbaijan
