The Republic of Azerbaijan as an independent state and a subject of international law has its own armed forces in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Constitutional Act "on the State Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan".

Article 1.The armed forces of the Republicof Azerbaijanserve to protect its territorial integrity and inviolability, sovereignty and the interests and to prevent an armed attack and repulse an aggression against the State.

Article 2. The armed forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan can be instructed to engage in activities not in their competence through the Decision of the National Assembly upon the proposal by the President of Azerbaijan Republic.

Article 3. Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan are established and function on the basis of the principles of the regular army, mixed recruitment, centralized and single leadership, high military discipline, mobilization and combat preparedness, as well as provision of military servants with social-legal protection.

Article 4. Armed Forces of Azerbaijan Republic consist of ground troops, air defence forces, air forces and navy.

The organizational structure of Armed Forces consists of groups, units, military bases, military organizations and military educational facilities.

Article 5. The number and the general structure of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan Republic is approved by the relevant executive authority. Armed Forces of Azerbaijan Republic are funded by the allocations from the state budget.

Article 6. The President of Azerbaijan commands the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan Republic as the Supreme Commander-in-Chief as per the competencies of the relevant state bodies as defined by the legislation.

Article 7. The recruitment to and the military service in the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan Republic are carried out on the basis of the Law "on the military conscription" and the Law "on Military Service" and other legislative acts.

Civilian servants in the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan Republic are recruited in accordance with cadre numbers determined by the Cabinet of Ministers and for posts determined in the list approved by the Ministry of Defence. Labour relations between the military command and the civilian servants is regulated by the labour law and state service law of Azerbaijan Republic.

Article 8. The groups, units and military bases of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan Republic are located in accordance with the requirements of the military doctrine.

Article 9. The military patriotic education of the military servants of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan Republic is carried out on the basis of the values of humanity and national-historical traditions of the Azerbaijani people.

The activities of any organization and trade unions with political aims is prohibited within the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan Republic.

Article 10. The control over the implementation of the laws, legal protection of military servants, their family members and civilians is conducted as per the legislation of Azerbaijan Republic.

Comments:
This is an unofficial translation done by UNHCR Baku. This text incorporates all the amendments up to 14 June 2005 (the most recent ones). Please note that the initial text of the 1991 Law was completely changed on 26 November 1993, although the Azerbaijan legislation considers the latter only as an amendment.
Disclaimer:

This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.