Azerbaijani President attends ceremony over 95th police anniversary (UPDATE)
By Nigar Orujova
President Ilham Aliyev attended a ceremony marking the 95th anniversary of the establishment of Azerbaijani police on July 2 conducted by the Police Academy of the Interior Ministry.
Interior Minister Ramil Usubov reported to President Aliyev.
The President paid tribute to the monument to National Leader Heydar Aliyev and cut a ribbon symbolizing the official inauguration of the Heydar Aliyev Center.
Aliyev was informed that the center was established under the presidential order dated May 22, 2009.
The President met employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the center`s auditorium.
The head of state delivered a speech at the ceremony.
Minister Usubov thanked the President for the attention to the development of Azerbaijani police.
The Azerbaijani national police was formed on July 2, 1918, when Behbud Khan Javanshir, Internal Affairs Minister of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, signed "Circular on police appointments". The Police Day started to be marked in the country under the decree of National Leader, former President Heydar Aliyev in 1998.
During World War II, about 800 Azerbaijani police officers were awarded high state awards for their courage and heroism on the battlefield.
The police and interior troops also defended territorial integrity of the country since the early days of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. 1,695 law enforcers fell victim in these battles, and 76 of them gained the National Hero title.
In 1921, the Azerbaijan National Police Academy was founded in Baku as a training establishment for police officers and commanders. Applicants for the Academy must comply with a number of criteria, including physical and academic characteristics.
Currently, Azerbaijan's Interior Ministry is the central executive body responsible for public security, prevention and exposure of crimes in the country within the framework of the powers provided by the national legislation.