Ministry of Defense (Azerbaijan)

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Coat of arms of Azerbaijani Land Forces

The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan Respublikasının Müdafiə Nazirliyi) is the Azerbaijani government ministry, associated with the Azerbaijani military. The ministry is responsible for keeping Azerbaijan defended against external threats, preserving its territorial integrity, waging war on behalf of Azerbaijan (for example the current Azerbaijani contribution to the War on Terror in Afghanistan and Iraq), and the surveillance of the Azerbaijani sector of Caspian Sea sea and airspace. The Minister of Defense is appointed and removed from the post by the Commander-in-chief of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, President of Azerbaijan.

The current Defense Minister is Zakir Hasanov.

History

In the midst of dissolution of Soviet Union and political turmoil in Azerbaijan in late 1980s, Azerbaijani military played an important role in the struggle for and retaining power.

Ministers of Defense of Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan Democratic Republic

№	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
			Won the Battle of Baku; Established two infantry divisions consisting of three regiments, artillery division, special telegraph, cavalry and machine gun platoons, railway battalions.
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
			1920 Ganja revolt; Failed to slow down the advance of 11th Red Army on Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.

Heads of Military Department of Azerbaijan SSR

People's Commissars for Military and Naval Affairs of Azerbaijan SSR

(the list is incomplete)

№	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
			During his term as Chief of Staff, Azerbaijani army has achieved successful military victories on the Karabakh front; Prevented the ammunition from being destroyed when the remaining Soviet army was pulling out of Azerbaijan in 1992.
2		Tajeddin Mehdiyev Tacəddin Mehdiyev (19??–)	11 December 1991	17 February 1992	68	Military	Mütəllibov II	1971
			Led an unsuccessful operation in Dashalty; Malibeyli and Gushchular Massacre.
–		Shahin Musayev (Acting) Şahin Musayev (19??–)	17 February 1992	24 February 1992	7	Military	–	–
			Capture of Garadaghly.
3		Tahir Aliyev Tahir Əliyev (1952–)	24 February 1992	16 March 1992	21	Military	–	1992
			Khojaly Massacre.
4		Rahim Gaziyev Rəhim Qazıyev (1943–)	17 March 1992	20 February 1993	340	Azerbaijani Popular Front Party	4. Elçibəy I	1992
			Capture of Shusha.
5		Dadash Rzayev Dadaş Rzayev (1935–)	20 February 1993	17 June 1993	147	Azerbaijani Popular Front Party	5. Elçibəy I	1993
			Sacked by President Abulfaz Elchibey for taking a part during skirmishes during the Ganja revolt.
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:New Azerbaijan Party/meta/color;"| –	80px	Safar Abiyev (Acting) Səfər Əbiyev (1950–)	17 June 1993	7 August 1993	51	style="background:Template:New Azerbaijan Party/meta/color;"|New Azerbaijan Party	–	–
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:New Azerbaijan Party/meta/color;"| –		Vahid Musayev (Acting) Vahid Musayev (1947–1999)	7 August 1993	25 August 1993	18	style="background:Template:New Azerbaijan Party/meta/color;"|New Azerbaijan Party	–	–
Arresting for being part of coup d'état attempt against Heydar Aliyev.
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:New Azerbaijan Party/meta/color;"| 6		Mammadrafi Mammadov Məmmədrəfi Məmmədov (1942–)	2 September 1993	6 February 1995	522	style="background:Template:New Azerbaijan Party/meta/color;"|New Azerbaijan Party	6. H.Əliyev II	1993
Bishkek Protocol.
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:New Azerbaijan Party/meta/color;"| 7	80px	Safar Abiyev Səfər Əbiyev (1950–)	6 February 1995	22 October 2013	6833	style="background:Template:New Azerbaijan Party/meta/color;"|New Azerbaijan Party	7. H.Əliyev II	1995
During Abiyev's tenure as defense minister, Azerbaijan has signed military cooperation agreements with Turkey, the United States, Pakistan and others; Partnership for Peace.
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:New Azerbaijan Party/meta/color;"| 8		Zakir Hasanov Zakir Həsənov (1959–)	22 October 2013	Present	3174	style="background:Template:New Azerbaijan Party/meta/color;"|New Azerbaijan Party	8. İ.Əliyev I	2013

See also

• Azerbaijani Armed Forces
• Military history of Azerbaijan
• Prime Minister of Azerbaijan
• Cabinet of Azerbaijan

External links

• Azerbaijani Army being reformed according to NATO standards