View source for General Staff of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

{{Infobox government agency
|agency_name     = General Staff of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan Republic
|nativename      = Azərbaycan Respublikası Silahlı Qüvvələri Baş Qərargahı
|nativename_a    =
|nativename_r    =
|logo            =
|logo_width      =
|logo_caption    =
|seal            = Azerbaijani Armed Forces logo.svg
|seal_width      =
|seal_caption    =
|formed          = October 9, 1991
|date1           =
|date1_name      =
|date2           =
|date2_name      =
|preceding1      =
|preceding2      =
|dissolved       =
|superseding     =
|jurisdiction    = [[Azerbaijani Armed Forces]]
|headquarters    = [[Baku]], [[Azerbaijan Republic]]
|latd            =
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|lats            =
|latNS           =
|longd           =
|longm           =
|longs           =
|longEW          =
|employees       =
|budget          =
|chief1_name     = [[Karim Valiyev]]
|chief1_position = Chief of General Staff of Azerbaijani Armed Forces &ndash; First Deputy [[Minister of Defense (Azerbaijan)|Minister of Defense]]
|chief2_name     =
|chief2_position =
|chief3_name     =
|chief3_position =
|parent_agency   =
|child1_agency   =
|child2_agency   =
|website         =
|footnotes       =
}}
The '''General Staff of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan Republic''' ({{langx|az|Azərbaycan Respublikası Silahlı Qüvvələri Baş Qərargahı}}) is the [[Staff (military)|military staff]] of the [[Azerbaijani Armed Forces]]. It is the central organ of the Armed Forces Administration and oversees operational management of the armed forces under the [[Minister of Defense (Azerbaijan)|Ministry of Defense]] of [[Azerbaijan Republic]]. The Chief of the General Staff is appointed by the [[President of Azerbaijan]], who is the supreme [[commander-in-chief]] of the armed forces.
== History ==
It was founded as the '''Ümumi qərargah''' by the order of [[Samad bey Mehmandarov]] on 15 November 1918.<ref name=":1">https://ebooks.az/view/VbAXx0H9.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref> Then, Colonel [[Habib Bey Salimov]], Chief of Staff of the 424th Corps of Azerbaijan, was appointed Chief of the General Staff.<ref name=":1" /> The headquarters consisted of equipment, fortification, general on duty, general quartermaster, artillery, medicine, military education and control departments. By the end of the month, the General Staff moved to Ganja and continued its activities there.<ref name=":1" /> By the order of the Minister of War dated on [[New Year's Eve]], the General Artillery Department was established on the basis of the artillery department, and this structure was removed from the General Staff and subordinated directly to the Minister of Defense.<ref name=":1" /> In March 1919, by order of the Minister of War, Erkani-Harb (General Staff) was created.<ref name=":1" /> In this connection, the quartermaster general and topographic departments were taken from the General Staff and given to the Armed Forces.<ref name=":1" />
In 2008, a new structure of the General Staff was determined, accelerating [[NATO]] integration. It gained powers previously held by the MoD, turning the General Staff into a semi-independent structure. According to the corresponding report, the Inspection Department of the Ministry, as well as the Military Commissariat were re-subordinated to the General Staff. The existing Organizational Mobilization Department of the General Staff was abolished and merged with the Military Commissariat. A Land Forces Command was also created in accordance with the [[Turkish Land Forces|Turkish model]]. According to the Defense Ministry's press service, a meeting of the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry's working group with experts of the [[Allied Command Transformation]] was held in [[Baku]] to discuss the separation of the General Staff structure from the Ministry of Defense.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apa.az/ru/azerbaydjanskaya-armiya/-117469|title = Начался процесс разграничения полномочий Министерства обороны и Генерального штаба Вооруженных сил Азербайджана}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Silahlı Qüvvələr Baş Qərargahının strukturu müəyyən oldu|url=https://www.ekitabxana.az/docs/QAZET/qzt2008_1244q.htm|access-date=2021-03-16|website=www.ekitabxana.az}}{{Dead link|date=May 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
The General Staff itself was then divided into six main departments:<ref name=":0" />
* General Directorate of Personnel Management
* General Intelligence Agency
* General Operations and Combat Training Department
* Support Forces Command
* General Directorate of Defense Planning
* General Directorate of Communications and Information Systems
On 26 July 2014, a groundbreaking ceremony for a new and modern office building for the General Staff Headquarter was held at the Ministry of Defense, attended by Defense Minister Colonel-General [[Zakir Hasanov]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Silahlı Qüvvələrin Baş Qərargahı üçün inşa edilən yeni inzibati binanın təməlqoyma mərasimi keçirilib|url=https://mod.gov.az/az/news/silahli-quvvelerin-bas-qerargahi-ucun-insa-edilen-yeni-inzibati-binanin-temelqoyma-merasimi-kecirilib-12059.html|access-date=2021-03-16|website=AZƏRBAYCAN RESPUBLİKASI MÜDAFİƏ NAZİRLİYİ|language=az}}</ref>
==Members of the General Staff==
*Chief of the General Staff (head) - [[Karim Valiyev]]
*Deputy Chief of the General Staff and Chief of the Main Operational Department
*Deputy Chief of the General Staff and Chief of the Department of Ideological Work and Moral and Psychological Support
*National Advisor on Military Issues to the President of Azerbaijan - Lieutenant General [[Vahid Aliyev]] (2012-2017)<ref>{{Cite web|title=M.A.Əliyevin Azərbaycan Respublikası Prezidentinin Müdafiə məsələləri üzrə köməkçisi xidmətinin Müdafiə məsələləri şöbəsinin müdiri vəzifəsinə təyin edilməsi haqqında Azərbaycan Respublikası Prezidentinin Sərəncamı|url=https://azertag.az/xeber/MAAliyevin_Azerbaycan_Respublikasi_Prezidentinin_Mudafie_meseleleri_uzre_komekchisi_xidmetinin_Mudafie_meseleleri_sobesinin_mudiri_vezifesine_teyin_edilmesi_haqqinda_Azerbaycan_Respublikasi_Prezidentinin_Serencami-18114|access-date=2021-05-15|website=azertag.az|language=az}}</ref>
*[[Commander of the Land Forces (Azerbaijan)|Commander of the Azerbaijani Land Forces]] - Lieutenant General [[Anvar Afandiyev]]
*[[Commander of the Navy (Azerbaijan)|Commander of the Azerbaijani Navy]] - Rear Admiral [[Subhan Bekirov]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://armiya.az/ru/news/159598|title = Назначен командующий ВМС Азербайджана}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ru.axar.az/news/politika/480322.html|title = Назначен новый командующий ВМС Азербайджана|date = 29 June 2020}}</ref>
*[[Commander of the Air Force (Azerbaijan)|Commander of the Azerbaijani Air Force]] - Lieutenant General [[Ramiz Tahirov]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mod.gov.az/en/deputy-minister-of-defence-commander-of-the-air-force-544/|title = Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan}}</ref>
==List of Chiefs of the General Staff==
===Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1918−1920)===
{{Officeholder table start
| showorder          = y
| showimage          = y
| image_title        = Portrait
| officeholder_title = Chief of the General Staff
| showtermlenght     = y
| showparty          = n
| showdefencebranch  = n
| showref            = y
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 1
| image             = Habib bey Salimov (cropped).jpg
| military_rank     = [[Major general]]
| officeholder      = [[Habib Bey Salimov]]
| officeholder_sort = Salimov, Habib Bey
| born_year         = 1881
| died_year         = 1920
| term_start        = 1 August 1918
| term_end          = 26 March 1919
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1918|08|01|1919|03|26}}
| ref               = –
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 2
| image             = Süleyman bəy Sulkeviç.jpg
| military_rank     = Major general
| officeholder      = [[Maciej Sulkiewicz]]
| officeholder_sort = Shulkevich, Mammad Bey
| born_year         = 1865
| died_year         = 1920
| term_start        = 26 March 1919
| term_end          = 10 December 1919
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1919|03|26|1919|12|10}}
| ref               = –
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 3
| image             = %C6%8Fbd%C3%BClh%C9%99mid_b%C9%99y_Qaytaba%C5%9F%C4%B1.jpg
| military_rank     = Major general
| officeholder      = [[Abdulhamid Bey Gaytabashi]]
| officeholder_sort = Gaytabashi, Abdulhamid Bey
| born_year         = 1848
| died_year         = 1920
| term_start        = 10 December 1919
| term_end          = 28 April 1920
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1919|12|10|1920|04|28}}
| ref               = <ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.lent.az/news.php?id=3544 |title=Marş, irəli!... |trans-title=Forward |publisher=Lent.az |date=2008-06-25 |access-date=2011-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706131014/http://www.lent.az/news.php?id=3544 |archive-date=2011-07-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.adalet-az.com/new/2007/06/26/read=9456 |title=Silahlı Qüvvələrin yaradılmasından 89 il ötür |trans-title=89 years pass since creation of armed forces |publisher=Adalet |author=Rustam |date=2007-06-26 |access-date=2011-01-05 |archive-date=2011-10-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007230129/http://www.adalet-az.com/new/2007/06/26/read=9456 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table end}}
''For period from 1920 to 1992, see [[Chief of the General Staff (Russia)|Chief of the General Staff of the Soviet Union]].''
===Azerbaijan Republic (1991−present)===
{{Officeholder table start
| showorder          = y
| showimage          = y
| image_title        = Portrait
| officeholder_title = Chief of the General Staff
| showtermlenght     = y
| showparty          = n
| showdefencebranch  = n
| showref            = y
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 1
| image             =
| military_rank     = Major general
| officeholder      = [[Shahin Musayev]]
| officeholder_sort = Musayev, Shahin
| born_year         =
| died_year         =
| term_start        = 22 January 1992
| term_end          = May 1992
| timeinoffice      = {{age in years and months|1992|01|22|1992|05|1}}
| ref               = <ref>{{cite web |url=http://e-qanun.az/print.php?internal=view&target=1&docid=6947&doctype=0 |title=Ş. X. Musayev haqqında AZƏRBAYCAN RESPUBLİKASI PREZİDENTİNİN SƏRƏNCAMI |trans-title=Decree of President of Azerbaijan on Sh. Kh. Musayev |access-date=2011-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009183642/http://e-qanun.az/print.php?internal=view&target=1&docid=6947&doctype=0 |archive-date=2011-10-09 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.milaz.info/news.php?id=1174| title= ORDUMUZUN 90 İLLİYİ: AZƏRBAYCANIN MÜDAFİƏ NAZİRLƏRİ, BAŞ QƏRARGAH RƏİSLƏRİ VƏ HƏRBİ DƏNİZ QÜVVƏLƏRİNİN KOMANDANLARI| trans-title= 90 years anniversary of oura rmy: Ministers of Defense, Chiefs of Staff and Naval Commanders of Azerbaijan| access-date= 2010-07-15| archive-date= 2012-02-26| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120226181333/http://www.milaz.info/news.php?id=1174| url-status= dead}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = –
| image             =
| military_rank     = [[Colonel]]
| officeholder      = [[Rufat Amirov]]
| officeholder_sort = Amirov, Rufat
| born_year         =
| died_year         =
| term_start        = May 1992
| term_end          = May 1992
| acting            = y
| timeinoffice      = {{age in years and months|1992|05|1|1992|05|1}}
| ref               = –
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 2
| image             =
| military_rank     = [[Lieutenant general]]
| officeholder      = [[Valeh Barshadly]]
| officeholder_sort = Barshadly, Valeh
| born_year         = 1927
| died_year         = 1999
| term_start        = May 1992
| term_end          = 4 September 1992
| timeinoffice      = {{age in years and months|1992|05|1|1992|09|04}}
| ref               = <ref name=center>{{cite web| url= http://www.azerbaycanli.org/az/page250.html| title= The Center of Effective Initiatives| access-date= 2011-01-05| archive-date= 2016-03-03| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160303202007/http://www.azerbaycanli.org/az/page250.html| url-status= dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://e-qanun.az/files/framework/data/7/f_7708.htm |title=Decree of the President of Azerbaijan Republic on V.E. Barshadly |access-date=2010-07-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706131517/http://e-qanun.az/files/framework/data/7/f_7708.htm |archive-date=2011-07-06 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.milaz.info/news.php?id=4724| title= "Doktrina" Jurnalistlərin Hərbi Araşdırmalar Mərkəzi| trans-title= "Doctrine" Military Research Center for Journalists| access-date= 2010-07-12| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111008153434/http://www.milaz.info/news.php?id=4724| archive-date= 2011-10-08| url-status= dead}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 3
| image             =
| military_rank     = Lieutenant general
| officeholder      = [[Nuraddin Sadigov]]
| officeholder_sort = Sadigov, Nuraddin
| born_year         = 1935
| died_year         = 2009
| term_start        = 4 September 1992
| term_end          = 17 June 1993
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1992|09|04|1993|06|17}}
| ref               =  <ref name=Qanun>{{cite web |url=http://e-qanun.az/print.php?internal=view&target=1&docid=7706&doctype=0 |title=N. S. Sadıqov haqqında AZƏRBAYCAN RESPUBLİKASI PREZİDENTİNİN FƏRMANI |trans-title=Order of President of Azerbaijan on appointment of N.S. Sadigov |access-date=2011-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009183352/http://e-qanun.az/print.php?internal=view&target=1&docid=7706&doctype=0 |archive-date=2011-10-09 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = –
| image             = Safar Abiyev in 2006.jpg
| military_rank     = [[Colonel general]]
| officeholder      = [[Safar Abiyev]]
| officeholder_sort = Amirov, Rufat
| born_year         = 1950
| died_year         =
| term_start        = 17 June 1993
| term_end          = 2 November 1993
| acting            = y
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1993|06|17|1993|11|02}}
| ref               = <ref>{{cite web |url= http://e-qanun.az/print.php?internal=view&target=1&docid=8464&doctype=0 |title= D. Q. Rzayev və S. A. Əbiyev haqqında AZƏRBAYCAN RESPUBLİKASI PREZİDENTİNİN FƏRMANI |trans-title=Order of President of Azerbaijan on D.Q. Rzayev and S.A. Abiyev |access-date= 2011-01-05 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111009183834/http://e-qanun.az/print.php?internal=view&target=1&docid=8464&doctype=0 |archive-date= 2011-10-09 }}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 4
| image             = Ilham Aliyev viewed conditions created at newly-reconstructed Military Lyceum named after Jamshid Nahchivanshi 15 (cropped).jpg
| military_rank     = Colonel general
| officeholder      = [[Najmaddin Sadigov]]
| officeholder_sort = Sadigov, Nuraddin
| born_year         = 1956
| died_year         =
| term_start        = 2 November 1993
| term_end          = 28 January 2021
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1993|11|02|2021|01|28}}
| ref               = <ref>{{Cite web|last=Media.Az|title=Кто исполняет обязанности Наджмеддина Садыкова?|url=https://media.az/society/1067809153/kto-ispolnyaet-obyazannosti-nadzhmeddina-sadykova/|access-date=2021-02-06|website=media.az|language=ru}}</ref><ref name="Qanun-2">{{cite web |url=http://e-qanun.az/print.php?internal=view&target=1&docid=8639&doctype=0 |title=N. H. Sadıqov haqqında AZƏRBAYCAN RESPUBLİKASI PREZİDENTİNİN SƏRƏNCAMI |trans-title=Decree of President of Azerbaijan on appointment of N.H. Sadigov |access-date=2011-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009183004/http://e-qanun.az/print.php?internal=view&target=1&docid=8639&doctype=0 |archive-date=2011-10-09 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 5
| image             = Karim Valiyev during the victory parade (cropped).png
| military_rank     = Colonel general
| officeholder      = [[Karim Valiyev]]
| officeholder_sort = Valiyev, Karim
| born_year         = 1961
| died_year         =
| term_start        = 23 July 2021
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|2021|07|23}}
| ref               = <ref>{{cite news |title=Lieutenant General Karim Valiyev appointed Chief of Staff of the Azerbaijani Army |url=https://ednews.net/en/news/politics/470167-lieutenant-general-karim-valiyev-appointed-chief-of-staff-of-the-azerbaijani-army |access-date=5 August 2021 |work=EurasiaDiary |date=23 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=K.T.Vəliyevin Azərbaycan Respublikası müdafiə nazirinin birinci müavini – Azərbaycan Ordusunun Baş Qərargah rəisi təyin edilməsi haqqında Azərbaycan Respublikası Prezidentinin Sərəncamı |url=https://president.az/articles/52562 |website=president.az |publisher=Presidency of Azerbaijan |access-date=5 August 2021 |language=az |date=23 July 2021}}</ref>
}}
{{Officeholder table end}}
==See also==
*[[Military history of Azerbaijan]]
*[[Azerbaijani Navy]]
*[[Azerbaijani Air Forces]]
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{General Staff of Azerbaijani Armed Forces}}
{{Chief of military by country}}
{{Azerbaijani Armed Forces}}
[[Category:Military of Azerbaijan]]
[[Category:1991 establishments in Azerbaijan]]
[[Category:Chiefs of defence|Azerbaijan]]