Azerbaijan is introducing amendments to its Law on Defense, focusing on territorial defense — a development disclosed recently. The draft amendments define territorial defense as a set of nationwide military and special measures aimed at protecting and safeguarding the territory of Azerbaijan, including its state borders. The proposal also envisions the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan carrying out territorial defense in cooperation with state authorities, local self-government bodies, and legal entities. The procedures for organizing, preparing, and supporting the territorial defense will be outlined in a separate regulation.
So far, the available part of the proposed amendments does not mention the creation of territorial defense units or militias. However, it is highly likely that these elements will be detailed in the forthcoming Regulation on Territorial Defense.
Experts emphasize that territorial defense should not be confused with the army reserve system. While they may overlap, they serve distinct purposes. Reservists, once mobilized, can be deployed to any front line. In contrast, territorial defense is intended to protect one’s own community — quite literally.
Some might draw parallels with the self-defense and volunteer units of the First Karabakh War in the early 1990s. Despite the war’s heavy toll on Azerbaijan — 20% of the territory occupied, and over a million internally displaced persons — any comparisons should be made with caution. Back then, Azerbaijan lacked a fully formed army. When regular Russian units supported Armenia in combat, it was these ill-equipped and uncoordinated volunteer battalions that, through sheer bravery, thwarted key strategic objectives of the Armenian forces — preventing them from reaching the Kura River or severing key railways and future pipeline routes.
Today, Azerbaijan boasts a modern, professional military — proven during the 44-day Patriotic War and the counter-terror operations of September 2023. Territorial defense is being developed as a supplement to the army, not as a replacement.
Importantly, Azerbaijan appears to be drawing from international models. Territorial defense units exist in many countries. Within the post-Soviet space, the Baltic states have well-established structures, with Estonia’s “Kaitseliit” (Defense League) being the most prominent. Norway’s “Heimevernet” (Home Guard) serves a similar purpose.
Interest in such models surged after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, when Ukraine’s territorial defense played a key role in repelling the initial wave of aggression. Inspired by this example, Kazakhstan began forming its own territorial defense units — as previously reported by Minval — and now, Azerbaijan is following suit.
Establishing a territorial defense system under current conditions is, in essence, a necessary step. With the war in Ukraine to the north and the Iran-Israel conflict to the south, the world has become visibly and dangerously unstable. Moreover, certain threats are better addressed by territorial defense structures than by conventional armed forces. For these reasons, the proposed amendments to the Law on Defense are both timely and relevant — especially in today’s environment.
