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Azerbaijan moves to strengthen territorial defense with new legislative amendments

21 June 2025 13:04 (UTC +04:00)

Regulations on territorial defense are being improved, APA reports.

This is reflected in proposed amendments to the law “On Defense,” discussed during today’s session of the Milli Majlis.

Under the current law, territorial defense is organized to protect the state border, coastline, islands, critical infrastructure, and communications from enemy aggression, and to combat enemy landing forces and sabotage groups, while ensuring the implementation of martial law. Territorial defense is carried out by the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan in close coordination with border troops, internal troops, and other forces defined by national legislation. The duties, organization, and rules of interaction among participants of territorial defense are determined by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

According to the proposed amendment, territorial defense will be defined as a nationwide system of military and special measures to protect the territory of the country, including the state border. It will be carried out by the Armed Forces in cooperation with government bodies, local self-government authorities, and legal entities. The organization, preparation, and provision of territorial defense will be regulated by the Charter on Territorial Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

It was noted that the outcomes of the 44-day Patriotic War and recent anti-terror operations necessitated a revision of the territorial defense framework.

Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Defense, Security, and Counter-Corruption Arzu Naghiyev stated that the analysis of the 44-day Patriotic War and the anti-terror operation carried out on September 19–20, 2023, highlighted the need to further improve the legal framework for ensuring the country's territorial defense: “As outlined in the submitted draft law, the organization, preparation, and provision of territorial defense will be regulated by the Charter on Territorial Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, which will be approved by a relevant normative legal act issued by the head of state. This important draft law, submitted by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan under the right of legislative initiative, aims to further strengthen the legal basis for organizing the country’s defense. It has been reviewed by our Committee and recommended for discussion in the plenary session of the Milli Majlis.”

Following discussions, the bill was put to a vote and adopted in the first reading.