34 years have passed since the establishment of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on March 12.
According to Modern.az, in December 1991, the 5th division of the Internal Troops of the former USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs, located in Baku, was disbanded, and three military units comprising 2500 personnel were transferred to the subordination of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Since then, the formation of the Azerbaijani Internal Troops began on the basis of the military unit located in Bilajari settlement. The establishment and formation of the Internal Troops as an independent structure of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan coincided with a very difficult period for our country.
For 34 years now, the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs have faithfully served our people and state. Throughout these years, the personnel have fulfilled their duties with responsibility, discipline, and professionalism, making significant contributions to the protection of public order and stability.
Since their establishment, the Internal Troops have demonstrated perseverance for the stability of our country and the welfare of its citizens. As a result of the attention and care shown to the Troops, a solid foundation has been laid for their path of development and advancement. Particularly during the leadership of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, the Internal Troops transformed into an agile military formation with a modern material and technical base and high combat readiness.
According to the Decree of the Great Leader dated March 9, 1995, March 12 was established as the Day of the Internal Troops. This date is an expression of the high appreciation given to the glorious service path of the Internal Troops and the trust placed in them. This was not accidental. It was precisely the personnel of the Internal Troops of independent Azerbaijan who first began battles against Armenian invaders for the territorial integrity of our country on March 12, 1992. During the First Karabakh War, the examples of bravery and self-sacrifice shown by our servicemen in fiery trenches left indelible marks in the memory of our people.
During the battles for the restoration of our territorial integrity in the First Karabakh War, 682 personnel of the Internal Troops were martyred, 4 went missing, and 1179 were wounded. 9 servicemen of the Internal Troops were awarded the title of "National Hero of Azerbaijan".
After the First Karabakh War ended, during the long-term ceasefire period, the service activities of the troops were aimed at ensuring public order and security, neutralizing armed criminals, and maintaining order during mass events. Advanced experience was studied, military cooperation relations with relevant agencies of foreign countries were expanded, consistent measures were implemented to enhance the professional training of personnel, and reforms were carried out in line with the challenges and threats of the modern era. A Military Institute, training centers, and a helicopter squadron were established within the Internal Troops.
As a result of the supreme attention and care of President, Victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev, the activities of the Internal Troops have been further improved, their combat capability strengthened, and infrastructure renewed. The supply of modern weapons and equipment has been enhanced, and the service and living conditions, as well as the social welfare, of the personnel have been significantly improved.
Throughout these years, the acquisition of high combat readiness by servicemen in training and exercises, and the comprehensive experience gained, played a significant role in fulfilling the sacred mission of liberating our lands from occupation.
During the 44-day Patriotic War, the servicemen of the Internal Troops, remaining loyal to their glorious combat traditions, made worthy contributions to achieving the Great Victory over the Armenian invaders. Fighting bravely against the enemy, they fulfilled combat missions for the liberation of our lands at the cost of their lives and blood. In the Patriotic War, 66 personnel of the Internal Troops were martyred, and 346 were wounded. For their special services and examples of heroism, as well as for demonstrating bravery and courage while performing their military duties, 4 servicemen of the Internal Troops were awarded the title of "Hero of the Patriotic War".
On September 19–20, 2023, during the local anti-terror measures carried out by our Armed Forces, including the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in the Karabakh economic zone of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the assigned tasks were executed swiftly and precisely.
The personnel of the Internal Troops successfully fulfilled their duties by executing tasks with high professionalism, precise coordination, and determination. It was precisely the combat readiness, discipline, and operational experience accumulated over the years that ensured the swift and effective completion of these measures. As a result, separatism in the region was ended.
During the anti-terror measures, 12 servicemen of the Internal Troops who showed bravery and courage were martyred, and 24 were wounded, sustaining injuries of various degrees.
Even today, our servicemen skillfully cope with service tasks together with police officers in Karabakh and East Zangazur, diligently working to accelerate the Great Return program and fulfilling their duties in full.
The rich service experience, strong discipline, high combat readiness, and unwavering devotion to the homeland, formed over 34 years, continue to constitute the main pillar of the Internal Troops' activities today. The operational experience gained and institutional development during these years have strengthened the professional potential of the personnel, increasing their ability to respond flexibly and adequately to emerging challenges.
The constantly improving training system, the application of modern approaches, and professional human resources potential are among the main factors ensuring the sustainable development of the Internal Troops. Servicemen operating in difficult and responsible conditions faithfully fulfill their duties, adhering to the principles of loyalty to the state and service to the people.
The path traversed by the Internal Troops once again proves that the personnel have always been faithful guardians of the people's peace and internal stability, and will continue to fulfill their duties with the same responsibility, professionalism, and determination, adhering to the principles of loyalty to the state and the people, and will continue to make a reliable contribution to the stability of our country and the protection of public order.
