The Internal Troops of Azerbaijan (), also known as Interior Troops or Interior Guard, is the uniformed
gendarmerie
A gendarmerie () is a paramilitary or military force with law enforcement duties among the civilian population. The term ''gendarme'' () is derived from the medieval French expression ', which translates to " men-at-arms" (). In France and so ...
-like force in
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a Boundaries between the continents, transcontinental and landlocked country at the boundary of West Asia and Eastern Europe. It is a part of the South Caucasus region and is bounded by ...
.
Internal Troops are subordinated to the
Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan (the police authority of the country). The Internal Troops are the descendant of the Soviet Union's
Internal Troops, and are used to deal with internal emergencies such as natural disasters, restoring public order, internal armed conflicts and to safeguard important facilities. During wartime, the Internal Troops fall under the jurisdiction of the
Azerbaijani Land Forces and fulfill tasks of local defense and security. Other law enforcement bodies in Azerbaijan include the
Azerbaijani National Guard
The Azerbaijani National Guard () is an armed force of the Government of Azerbaijan, and operates as a semi-independent entity as well as the a reserve component of the Azerbaijan Army. The Special State Protection Service (SSPS) of Azerba ...
and the
State Border Service and its
Coast Guard
A coast guard or coastguard is a Maritime Security Regimes, maritime security organization of a particular country. The term embraces wide range of responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with cust ...
subcomponent. Founded in 1933, the ''Mubariz Keshikde'' newspaper informs the public about the activities of the internal troops.
History
In 1991, Azerbaijani Internal Troops was founded based on the decree of the president and later in 1994 activity areas of Internal Troops were determined by the law of the country on the Status of Internal Troops. 12 March is defined as a "Day of Internal Troops" by presidential decree dated 9 March 1995.
Roles
According to law, the Internal Troops perform the following tasks:
* Together with other internal affairs bodies in cities and other settlements act to protect the public, ensuring
public safety
Public security or public safety is the prevention of and protection from events that could endanger the safety and security of the public from significant danger, injury, or property damage. It is often conducted by a state government to ensu ...
during mass events including:
** Important state and public events, and transportation of important persons;
** Take part in the search and apprehension of intruders into protected areas;
* To supply the Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs with personnel to provide protection for storehouses and military bases;
* To supply the Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs with personnel to provide help in natural disasters and other similar situations;
* Aid in preventing mass riots in residential areas;
* To provide help to prevent mass riots in prisons;
* To search and apprehend fugitive convicts and arrested persons;
* If necessary, take part in the defense of the area.
Its equipment includes
Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine guns.
Structure
Main Department of Internal Troops
This department is considered as a main
structural unit in order to preserve governmental and civil interests of the country. In accordance with the article 11 of the law on the Issues of Internal Troops, the main department of the Internal Troops is led by the commander of internal troops. Internal Troops of Azerbaijan cooperates with the same bodies of several countries such as China, and
Turkey
Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...
.
The period for the
military service
Military service is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, air forces, and naval forces, whether as a chosen job (volunteer military, volunteer) or as a result of an involuntary draft (conscription).
Few nations, such ...
is eighteen months but for undergraduates, this period is defined as a year.
Military Council
Military Council acts within the Main Department of Internal Troops on the basis of statue accepted by the president. The council consists of the
commander
Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank as well as a job title in many army, armies. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countri ...
of internal troops, chief of headquarter and deputy directors of commander. However, other officials of the main department include the military council.
Hospital
The Military Hospital of the Internal Troops was established in 1993. The hospital has 12 departments: On 15 December 2005, the hospital has changed its location. All servicemen who apply to the Military Hospital of the Internal Troops, as well as their family members, undergo an initial clinical examination, and emergency medical care can be provided.
Band
The Band of the Internal Troops of Azerbaijan is the official
military band
A military band is a group of personnel that performs musical duties for military functions, usually for the armed forces. A typical military band consists mostly of wind instrument, wind and percussion instruments. The conducting, conductor of a ...
of the Internal Troops. Currently, the band has 115 members and includes song and dance ensemble. On 17 November 1994, the Main Department ordered the establishment of the band. The current artistic director is Lieutenant Colonel Ilgar Novruzov, a graduate of the
Baku Academy of Music. He is also the author and composer of the anthem of the Internal Troops.
Combined Arms Brigade of the Internal Troops
On 10 April 1995, the Nakhchivan "N" Battalion of the Internal Troops was established, being upgraded to a regiment in 2002. In 2014, the Nakhchivan Special Operations Brigade of the Internal Troops was established. It currently forms part of the
Nakhchivan Garrison.
Commander of the Internal Troops
The Commander of Internal Troops is a deputy director of the
Ministry of Internal Affairs and the chairman of the staff of internal troops. The main responsibilities of the commander are leading the internal troops, providing the preparation of mobilization and effective implementation of officers’ duties. Furthermore, according to the article 10, the commander is considered as a decision maker relating to the issues of internal troops.
List of commanders
Educational institutions
Higher Military School of the Internal Troops
Higher Military School of the Internal Troops of Azerbaijan was created in accordance with the presidential decree dated 25 February 2011 on the base of the Vocational Military School of the Internal Troops. Regulation of the military school was confirmed by the presidential decree in 2012. The Higher Military School of the Internal Troops is situated in
Baku
Baku (, ; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Azerbaijan, largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and in the Caucasus region. Baku is below sea level, which makes it the List of capital ci ...
and led by Ilqar Mammadov.
Military School is responsible for preparing special-military educated personnel, improving specialties of
military officers and implementing
scientific-investigation issues. Educational duration is four years and trainings and subjects are defined relating to the
European Credit Transfer System
The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is a standard means for comparing academic credits, i.e., the "volume of learning based on the defined learning outcomes and their associated workload" for higher education across the E ...
(ECTS) that guarantees academic recognition of studies abroad. The High Military School gives two specialties to the graduates such as, military and civil specialty. "High Special-Military Educated Military Officer" is a military specialty and "Physical Education and Initial Preparation Teacher" is a civil specialty. At the same time graduates gain both
bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree (from Medieval Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years ...
and lieutenant military rank.
Gala Training Regiment
The training regiment acts on the basis of the training center of internal troops since 2003. NATO standards are applied to the
educational system
The educational system generally refers to the structure of all institutions and the opportunities for obtaining education within a country. It includes all pre-school institutions, starting from family education, and/or early childhood education ...
. Three types of training courses are arranged at the regiment such as, half-yearly preparation courses, quarterly improvement courses for officer and
Warrant officer
Warrant officer (WO) is a Military rank, rank or category of ranks in the armed forces of many countries. Depending on the country, service, or historical context, warrant officers are sometimes classified as the most junior of the commissioned ...
s and a month academy courses. More than 930 military officers and warrant officers have passed military courses at the Gala Training Regiment respectively, 527 and 406 Servicemen.
Engagements
First Nagorno-Karabakh War
The First Nagorno-Karabakh War was an ethnic conflict, ethnic and territorial conflict that took place from February 1988 to May 1994, in the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in southwestern Azerbaijan, between the majority ethnic Armenians of Nag ...
2003 Azerbaijani protests
Operation Eagle
Guba riots
2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war
The Second Nagorno-Karabakh War was an armed conflict in 2020 that took place in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding occupied territories. It was a major escalation of an unresolved conflict over the region, involvi ...
.
See also
*
OPON
References
External links
Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs
{{DEFAULTSORT:Internal Troops Of Azerbaijan
Military of Azerbaijan
Law enforcement in Azerbaijan
Gendarmerie
1992 establishments in Azerbaijan
Military units and formations established in 1992