The State Border Service of Azerbaijan Republic ( az, Azərbaycan Respublikası Dövlət Sərhəd Xidməti), also known as Border Guard of
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan (, ; az, Azərbaycan ), officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, , also sometimes officially called the Azerbaijan Republic is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is a part of t ...
, is a governmental
law enforcement agency in charge of protecting the
borders
A border is a geographical boundary.
Border, borders, The Border or The Borders may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media Film and television
* ''Border'' (1997 film), an Indian Hindi-language war film
* ''Border'' (2018 Swedish film), ...
of
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan (, ; az, Azərbaycan ), officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, , also sometimes officially called the Azerbaijan Republic is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is a part of t ...
. The Chief of State Border Service and Commander of Border Troops is
Colonel-General
Colonel general is a three- or four-star military rank used in some armies. It is particularly associated with Germany, where historically general officer ranks were one grade lower than in the Commonwealth and the United States, and was a r ...
Elchin Guliyev
Colonel general Elchin Guliyev ( az, Elçin Isa oğlu Quliyev; born 22 September 1967) is an Azerbaijani politician who serves as the Chief of State Border Service of Azerbaijan Republic.
Early life
Guliyev was born on 22 September 1967 in S ...
. Other law enforcement bodies in Azerbaijan include the
Internal Troops of Azerbaijan
The Internal Troops of Azerbaijan ( az, Azərbaycan Respublikası Daxili Qoşunları), also known as Interior Troops or Interior Guard, is the uniformed gendarmerie-like force in Azerbaijan. Internal Troops are subordinated to the Ministry of I ...
and the
Azerbaijani National Guard
The Azerbaijani National Guard ( az, Azərbaycan Milli Qvardiyası) 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 P ...
.
Objectives
The major objectives of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan are to protect the state border of the republic, fight against international terrorism, illegal migration and human trafficking, smuggling, drug trafficking, the proliferation of components of weapons of mass destruction, protection of oil and gas platforms and pipelines in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea. Furthermore, it is one of the main duties of State Border Service of Azerbaijan to overcome military attacks of troops or criminal groups of foreign countries to the territory of Azerbaijan Republic, protects people, state property, private property from those military and other actions and prevents this kind of actions.
History
Legislation on Border Troops includes the Constitution of Azerbaijan Republic, present law, and other legislative acts, on top of decrees of the President, resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers, and international and intergovernmental treaties. The Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Border Troops" was adopted on January 6, 1994. According to these laws, the State Border Service (SBS) is responsible for the security and protection of the borders of Azerbaijan. At the time, the border troops were part of the
Ministry of National Security of Azerbaijan
The Ministry of National Security (MNS, Azerbaijani: Milli Təhlukəsizlik Nazirliyi) was an intelligence agency within the cabinet of Azerbaijan. The MNS was a central executive authority that carried out the competencies designated to it by th ...
. The State Border Service of Azerbaijan was established on July 31, 2002 by decree of the
President of Azerbaijan
The president of the Republic of Azerbaijan is the head of state of Azerbaijan. The Constitution states that the president is the embodiment of executive power, commander-in-chief, "representative of Azerbaijan in home and foreign policies", ...
Heydar Aliyev
Heydar Alirza oghlu Aliyev ( az, Һејдәр Әлирза оғлу Әлијев, italic=no, Heydər Əlirza oğlu Əliyev, ; , ; 10 May 1923 – 12 December 2003) was a Soviet and Azerbaijani politician who served as the third president of Az ...
, by the removal of the border troops from jurisdiction of the
Ministry of National Security.
[The Presidential Decree "On establishment of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan Republic" dated July 31, 2002] Every year since 2000, 18 August has been celebrated as the Day of the Border Guard, commemorating the parliament on 18 August 1918 signing a decree "On the protection of the state border of the Republic of Azerbaijan" and a law "On the establishment of border customs protection in the Republic of Azerbaijan."
On 15 June 2019, in honor of the
National Salvation Day of Azerbaijanis National Salvation Day of Azerbaijanis () is an official holiday in Azerbaijan that is celebrated on June 15th, in accordance with the June 27, 1997, dated decree of the National Assembly (Azerbaijan), National Assembly of Azerbaijan. June 15th has ...
, the SBS organized a procession with a 100 m long flag of Azerbaijan. More than 5,000 border guards carried the
Flag of Azerbaijan
The national flag of Azerbaijan ( az, Azərbaycan bayrağı), often referred to in Azerbaijani language, Azerbaijani as ( en, Tricolour flag), is a horizontal tricolour (flag), tricolour that features three equally sized bars of bright blue, ...
on their shoulders. They were escorted by border guard riders on
Karabakh horse
The Karabakh horse ( az, Qarabağ atı) is a mountain-steppe racing and riding horse breed. It is named after the Karabakh region, from which the breed originates. The breed is noted for its good temperament and speed; in 2004, a Karabakh horse n ...
s, armored fighting vehicles and 8 helicopters.
Operations
In December 2018, by order of the President Ilham Aliyev, the SBS took up combat positions and facilities on the section of the border with Armenia, passing through the territory of
Gazakh
Qazax (; ) is a city in and the capital of the Gazakh District of Azerbaijan. It has a population of 20,900. Gazakh is a city and administrative district in the west of Azerbaijan, the "western gate" of Azerbaijan.
History
Early history
In ...
and
Aghstafa regions, replacing the units of the
Azerbaijani Army
The Azerbaijani Armed Forces ( az, Azərbaycan Silahlı Qüvvələri) were re-established according to the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the Armed Forces from 9 October 1991. The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) had originally formed ...
covering the border. At the moment, the protection and defense of this section of the border is carried out by units of the Separate Border Division "Gazakh" of the border troops of the State Border Guard Service. The Border Guard Service also took part in extinguishing forest fires in the summer in the
Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park in central
Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States
Georgia may also refer to:
Places
Historical states and entities
* Related to the ...
, sending two helicopters to help. In the fall of 2020, during the
armed conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh with the participation of the State Border Service, the Azerbaijani forces seized control of several settlements in
Jabrayil District
Jabrayil District ( az, Cəbrayıl rayonu) is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. It is located in the south-west of the country and belongs to the East Zangezur Economic Region. The district borders the districts of Khojavend, Fuzuli, Qubad ...
. The Supreme Commander of the
Azerbaijani Armed Forces
The Azerbaijani Armed Forces ( az, Azərbaycan Silahlı Qüvvələri) were re-established according to the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the Armed Forces from 9 October 1991. The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) had originally formed ...
, President
Ilham Aliyev congratulated Elchin Guliyev in connection with "raising the Azerbaijani flag over the
Khudafarin bridge, liberating several residential settlements with the participation of the SBS." During the war,
Hikmet Hajiyev
Hikmet Farhad oglu Hajiyev ( az, Hikmət Fərhad oğlu Hacıyev) is an Azerbaijani public figure who serves as the Foreign Policy Advisor to the President of Azerbaijan. He also serves as the Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presi ...
, Assistant of the Azerbaijani president, expressed concern over a photo published by
Armenia
Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook , , and ' ...
's
Defense Ministry
{{unsourced, date=February 2021
A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is an often-used name for the part of a government responsible for matters of defence, found in states ...
in which Defense Minister
David Tonoyan
David Edgari Tonoyan ( Armenian:Դավիթ Էդգարի Տոնոյան; born 27 December 1967) is an Armenian political figure and former Defence Minister of Armenia, in office from 2018 to 2020.
Biography Early life and career
David Tonoya ...
were with Armenian soldiers wearing military uniforms of the SBS, saying that they may "organize perpetration of military crimes against the civilian Armenian population, and attempting to put the responsibility on Azerbaijan".
Cooperation
The State Border Service of Azerbaijan actively cooperates with the border guard agencies of neighboring states such as Russia, Georgia, Turkey, Iran, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan. Within the framework of this cooperation, bilateral and multilateral meetings, and conferences are held. Additionally, regular joint exercises are conducted with the border services of Russia and Kazakhstan. The cooperation with the neighboring countries have been aimed to improve the security of the airspace of Azerbaijan and the maritime space in the Caspian Sea. The State Border Service of Azerbaijan is also working together with NATO due to the same purpose.
From 23 to 27 May 2015, Director General of the General Office the United Arab Emirates Supreme Council of National Security's Port, Border and Free Zones Security, Jassem Mohammad al-Zaabi was in Azerbaijan on an official visit. The purpose of his visit was due to the further cooperation and fight against international terrorism, illegal migration, drug trafficking and other crimes.
In 2017, head of the State Border Service Elchin Guliyev and the chairman of the
State Border Committee of Belarus Anatoly Lappo discussed bilateral interaction and cooperation in the
CIS
Cis or cis- may refer to:
Places
* Cis, Trentino, in Italy
* In Poland:
** Cis, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, south-central
** Cis, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, north
Math, science and biology
* cis (mathematics) (cis(''θ'')), a trigonome ...
Council of Border Troops Commanders.
In February 2017, a memorandum was signed between the State Border Service and the
Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia ( ka, საქართველოს შინაგან საქმეთა სამინისტრო), abbreviated MIA (''შსს''), is the highest state law enforcement agency of Geor ...
on the establishment of a special institute of border commissioners. The purpose of the institution is to strengthen the control of the state border and to ensure bilateral cooperation for the future between
Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States
Georgia may also refer to:
Places
Historical states and entities
* Related to the ...
and Azerbaijan.
Structure
Active units
The structure of the State Border Service includes the headquarters, departments, and other organizations. The State Border Service's central office, border guards, naval and military aviation units, border control units, military units, as well as other structural units together form the unified system of the State Border Service. The main units of the State Border's direct guard are the frontier post, the frontier control unit, the frontier ship (boat), the radio engineering post, the frontier aircraft, the division of the operational-search organ, the precinct authorized frontier troops.
Separate Border Division
On 22 August 1992, the first border detachment of Azerbaijan was established on the basis of the former 41st Border Detachment of the Soviet Transcaucasian Border Troops. President
Ilham Aliyev ordered in early 2004 that the Nakhchivan Border Detachment was to be transformed into the "Nakhchivan" Border Division.
Maritime Brigade (Azerbaijani Coast Guard)
The Azerbaijan Coast Guard is an Azeri law enforcement agency which is a part of the State Border Service. It has been receiving
U.S. Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, mul ...
assistance including the transfer of a Point-class cutter. The Coast Guard was established within the State Border Service by presidential order in 2005. The Coast Guard's new base was built in
Türkan district of
Baku within the State Program on "Technical development of security of state borders of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 2006-2010". The Maritime Brigade/Coast Guard has one Point class cutter, S 14 (ex U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Point Brower, transferred 28 February 2003), one
Osa class missile boat
The Project 205 Moskit (''mosquito'') more commonly known by their NATO reporting name Osa, are a class of missile boats developed for the Soviet Navy in the late 1950s. Until 1962 this was classified as a large torpedo boat.
The Osa class is ...
, S 008, which has had its SS-N-2B missiles removed, 3
Stenka class
The Stenka class is the NATO reporting name for a class of patrol boats built for the Soviet Navy and Soviet Allies. The Soviet designation was Project 205P ''Tarantul'' (not to be confused with the ). The boats are an Anti-submarine warfare, ant ...
patrol boats, S 005, S 006, and S 007, all with sonar and torpedo tubes removed, 1
Zhuk class patrol craft, P 222, and two Silver Ships small craft, S 11 and S 12. (Jane's Fighting Ships 2010) The Coast Guard also operates 6
Sa'ar 62 class offshore patrol vessel
The Sa'ar 62-class offshore patrol vessel, are a type of vessel used by the Cyprus Navy
The Cyprus Naval Command ( el, Ναυτική Διοίκηση Κύπρου, tr, Kıbrıs Deniz Kuvvetleri) (also known as the Cyprus Navy or Cypriot Navy ...
s. The commander is Colonel Afghan Nagiyev.
Educational institutions
Academy
As the Chief of State Border Service, Elchin Guliyev was able to encourage opening of a new Academy of State Border Troops in August 2010, of which he became the rector.
SBS Special School
The Special School of the SBS is located in the
Mardakan settlement of the
Khazar raion
The Khazar raion ( az, Xəzər rayonu) is one of the 12 rayonlar in Baku, Azerbaijan. It has a population of 170,400.
Name
Before being renamed by the decision of the Parliament of Azerbaijan on May 11, 2010, the raion was called Azizbekov (Azerb ...
. It was reconstructed at the suggestion of the
Heydar Aliyev Foundation
The Heydar Aliyev Foundation ( az, Heydər Əliyev Fondu) is a charitable foundation headed by Azerbaijan's First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva. The foundation is named after Azerbaijan's former president, Heydar Aliyev – the father of the incumbent pr ...
in 2011. On 18 October of the same year, the inauguration of the Special School of the Border Guard took place. The total area of the new school building is 11,000 square meters.
Flags
Flags of Border Troops and military units (land flags)
File:Azerbaijan Border Guards Standard (Reverse).svg, Flag of the Border Troops (reverse). ''Note: The obverse of the flag is similar to the national flag''
File:Flag of the Border Regiments (Reverse).svg, Flag of the Border Regiments (reverse). ''Note: The obverse of the flag is similar to the national flag''
File:Flag of the Border Units (State Border Service of Azerbaijan) (Reverse).svg, Flag of the Border Units (reverse). ''Note: The obverse of the flag is similar to the national flag''
Naval flags
File:Coast Guard Flag of Azerbaijan.svg, The flag of the Azerbaijani Coast Guard
File:Flag of the President of Azerbaijan on board of a ship of the State Border Service.svg, Flag of the President of Azerbaijan while on board a ship of the State Border Service
File:Flag of the Chief of the Azerbaijan State Border Service - Commander of Border Troops.svg, Flag of the Chief of the State Border Service - Commander of Border Troops
File:Flag of the Chief of General Staff of the Border Troops of the Azerbaijan State Border Service.svg, Flag of the Chief of General Staff of the Border Troops
File:Flag of the Commander of Group of Vessels of the Azerbaijan State Border Service.svg, Flag of the Commander of a group of vessels
File:Command Pennant of the Azerbaijan Border patrol vessels.svg, Command Pennant of Border Patrol vessels
File:Masthead Pennant of the Azerbaijan Border patrol vessels.svg, Masthead Pennant of Border Patrol vessels
See also
*
Borders of Azerbaijan
References
External links
Official website
Azerbaijantoday.com. Azerbaijan border service has covered a long way of development 07.09.2009
News.az. State Border Service ships rescue Russian ship
{{authority control
Border protection
Law enforcement agencies of Azerbaijan
Government agencies of Azerbaijan
Government agencies established in 2002
2002 establishments in Azerbaijan
Borders of Azerbaijan