Azerbaijani FM congratulates military personnel on holiday

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has shared a message on the occasion of the Day of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.

“We sincerely congratulate our soldiers and officers, who play an exceptional role in ensuring peace, security, sovereignty and territorial integrity of our Motherland, on June 26 - Armed Forces Day and wish them further success in their service! Happy holiday!” Caliber.Az reports citing Bayramov’s message on X.

Azerbaijan celebrates 106th anniversary of the Armed Forces on June 26.

The first regular military unit - a separate Azerbaijani corps was created upon the decision of the Council of Ministers of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic on June 26, 1918.

The government of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic set the task of creating an army consisting of 25,000 soldiers. The Azerbaijani Military Ministry was established on August 1, 1918 and Khosrov bey Sultanov was appointed first minister of war.

Then, General Samad bey Mehmandarov was appointed minister of war, while Lieutenant General Aliaga Shikhlinski was appointed deputy minister on December 25.

The first success in the military sphere was achieved on September 15. The national army, together with the Caucasian Islamic Army led by Nuru Pasha, liberated Baku and the surrounding districts from the occupation by Armenian Bolshevik groups. The first military parade in Azerbaijan was held in Baku in 1919.

June 26 was declared Armed Forces Day upon the decree of Azerbaijani national leader Heydar Aliyev dated May 22, 1998.