Azerbaijan celebrates Armed Forces Day in Russia

Azerbaijan's Armed Forces Day was celebrated in Russia’s capital Moscow on June 26.

While opening the event, Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu spoke about the significance of this date, Caliber.Az reports citing the local media.

“Azerbaijan's Armed Forces Day has special significance in our statehood history, and it is heartening that today, for the first time the nation celebrates the 106th anniversary across the entire territory after the restoration of the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. During the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, a significant corps of Azerbaijani servicemen, etching their names in history, was also formed. Among them were generals and twice Heroes of the Soviet Union such as Hazi Aslanov, Mahmud Abilov, Akim Abbasov, Ziya Bunyatov, and others. In that difficult period, they showed heroism and received the highest awards and titles for their deeds,” he said.  

The diplomat noted that a new chapter in the history of Azerbaijan's Armed Forces began after Azerbaijani national leader Heydar Aliyev returned to power in 1993.

“The best officers at that period were mobilised upon Heydar Aliyev’s instructions in this extremely challenging period for Azerbaijan, during the occupation of 20 per cent of the Azerbaijani territories by Armenia. The foundations of military professional training were laid. The Day of the Creation of the Separate Azerbaijani Corps - June 26 was declared the Day of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan upon Heydar Aliyev’s decree dated May 22, 1998,” Bulbuloglu said.

The ambassador emphasised that the Azerbaijani army is currently at the most glorious stage of its existence and ranks among the world's strongest armies. The historic victory in the 44-day second Karabakh war, which demonstrated Azerbaijan's military power in the region, testifies to this.

“The army has demonstrated the high moral and physical qualities, as well as patriotic sentiments of our soldiers and officers. The victorious Azerbaijani army liberated the occupied territories under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of Azerbaijan, setting an example of modern warfare to the world,” Bulbuloglu added.

The diplomat also mentioned that Azerbaijan faces another unresolved challenge - the threat of landmines on the liberated territories, hindering the reconstruction process and the return of displaced people to their houses.

“Azerbaijan ranks among the most heavily landmine-contaminated countries due to nearly 30 years of Armenian occupation of the Azerbaijani territories. Since the beginning of Armenia's military aggression against Azerbaijan, over 3,400 Azerbaijani citizens have suffered as a result of landmine explosions, and this number continues rising. Currently, Azerbaijan is making the initiatives on the international stage to address this problem and hopes for political and practical support from the international community to clear the territory from landmines,” Bulbuloglu said.

Military attache of the Azerbaijani embassy in Russia, Colonel Kanan Tahmazov noted that the policy of national leader Heydar Aliyev and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev turned the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan into the most powerful and combat-ready army in the entire region.

“The Azerbaijani people are proud of their army and the victorious commander-in-chief. Azerbaijan gained the victory thanks to the victorious commander-in-chief. On this holiday, I announce that the service in the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan is a source of boundless pride and duty for every Azerbaijani citizen. We revere the memory of martyrs who died while restoring Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity,” he added.

Russian Deputy Defence Minister, Lieutenant General Alexander Fomin, accredited ambassadors of friendly countries, as well as military attaches also attended the event.

Azerbaijan commemorated the 106th anniversary of its Armed Forces on June 26. Established by the Council of Ministers of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic on June 26, 1918, the first regular military unit, known as a separate Azerbaijani corps, marked a significant milestone. The national army, in collaboration with the Caucasian Islamic Army under Nuru Pasha's leadership, achieved its initial military success on September 15 by liberating Baku and its surrounding regions from Armenian Bolshevik occupation.

Following the occupation of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the Bolshevik government disbanded the National Army in April 1920. On May 22, 1998, Azerbaijani national leader Heydar Aliyev declared June 26 as Armed Forces Day. A crowning achievement for the Azerbaijani army during this period was its decisive victory in the 44-day second Karabakh war.