"Military construction is being conducted in the wrong direction"

According to the decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev on September 6 "On some measures to improve the activities in the field of medical examination of citizens subject to urgent active military conscription", from July 1, 2024, the fitness of citizens for military service will be checked in Azerbaijan, and not by the State Service for Mobilization and Conscription, but by the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection Population (MLSPP.)

Will this change eliminate negative phenomena in this area?

The head of the Caspian Institute of Military Studies, military analyst Jasur Mammadov (Sumerinli) answers questions from ASTNA on this topic.

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Question: According to the Decree "On some measures to improve the activities in the field of medical examination of citizens subject to urgent active military conscription" signed by President Ilham Aliyev, from July 1, 2024 in Azerbaijan, the fitness of citizens for military service is established not by the State Service for Mobilization and Conscription, but by the MLSPP. What is the reason for this step? Was there a need for this?

Answer: I think that from the point of view of the withdrawal of military policy from the monopoly of structures related to the defense and security sector, this decree is remarkable. It should be borne in mind that one of the main reasons for the presence of corruption and other negative phenomena in the Conscription Service is precisely the military nature of this structure and, as a consequence, its maximum closeness. That is, the persons represented in the Conscription Service, in many cases, using the nature of closeness provided to them by law, closed their doors to the media and civil society. For example, they did not respond to many requests that we sent in connection with illegal phenomena that were discovered during the conscription of our conscripts, calling it a "military secret". Now, the deprivation of this Service of a certain important function and its transfer to the Ministry (MLSPP – Ed.) gives rise to the hope that the media and civil society will be able to control the conscription process to some extent, especially in an attention-grabbing and painful issue like "fitness". And this may lead to the fact that certain steps will be taken to prevent a significant number of problems in the process of conscription for military service. Frankly speaking, it is difficult to believe in this, but if something happens after a certain period, then in all probability it will not go unnoticed by us.

Question: For the first time, the issue related to the security and defense of the country is fully entrusted to a foreign structure. Is there such an experience in the world?

Answer: The closeness of the process of eligibility of conscripts for military service has so far only harmed us. The children of high officials, rich people received deferrals from military service, the children of the poor, sick conscripts were considered fit for military service and were sent to the front line.

Especially the sending of the only sons (sometimes children) of the family to military service, the receipt by the offspring of an official of the right to delay or declare him ill and release from military service caused justified discontent in society. Therefore, I consider the changes that are taking place important, but it is too early to say anything about the results.

Of course, there is a similar experience in the world. In NATO countries, as well as in a number of countries, for example, in Georgia, the conscription process is considered an open process, and no restrictions are imposed on media and NGO research in this process. There are no obstacles in the way of Parliament's intervention in this process. The general philosophy in these countries is to apply civilian control over the army.

Question: Recently, disabled people, veterans are dissatisfied with the MLSPP. What does the transfer of fitness for military service to this structure mean? Will discontent increase?

Answer: The growth of discontent is expected. But the intervention of society in the process, the process of establishing facts will be facilitated. This is very important and will certainly lead to the discovery of more facts and the emergence of discontent. And it was not so easy to express dissatisfaction with the Conscription Service, it was almost impossible to reveal the facts. It was clear to the public that there were such cases as refusal of conscription or sending to a good military unit for a bribe, but it was difficult to establish this as a fact. Delegating the MLSPP process will simplify the task somewhat, at least there will be no strict ban on military secrets.

Question: True, there was also dissatisfaction with the State Service for Mobilization and Conscription. But is it, as already mentioned, a way out of the situation to entrust the military issue to a body of a different profile?

Answer: It is difficult to come to any conclusion as to whether this is a way out or not. But in the current conditions, it is not easy to think about other alternatives. You see, there is a need for a radical change in the military system in Azerbaijan. A contract, professional army should be created in the country and recruitment centers corresponding to this system should be created. Only in this case it would be possible to share the promising expectations for the eradication of corruption and bribery in the army system. However, in the current conditions it is very difficult to put forward any other ideas or proposals. Because military construction itself is turned upside down.

Question: How should the issue of fitness for military service, conscription be regulated so that no one's rights are violated, there are no bribes and violations of the law? What would you suggest?

Answer: As already mentioned, it is necessary to build a new army. The defense and security sector must be completely renewed. The law enforcement personnel should be concentrated in one side, and the military personnel in the other. Now we have more than 10 military structures, and more than 300 thousand servicemen serve in them. Is there a need for such a composition? I think not. It is important that these institutions be reduced and at the same time merged. For example, the military personnel of the Internal Troops belonging to the Ministry of Internal Affairs should be transferred to the Ministry of Defense. The military personnel of the Ministry of Emergency Situations should also function as part of the Ministry of Defense. In particular, a significant part of the military personnel of the State Border Service should function as part of the Ministry of Defense. There are many such structures. Azerbaijan needs a maximum of 70 thousand soldiers who have undergone special training. Another necessary part should consist of a mobilization reserve – here we can talk about 300-500 thousand people.

There must be a political will of the country's leadership to prevent offenses in the army, eliminate cases of bribery and corruption. There should be transparency and accountability. Whether it is in front of society or parliament. The reason for the numerous deaths of soldiers should be clarified. Tenders and army supplies should be conducted transparently and on the basis of the law. Media and NGOs should be allowed to engage in activities related to the army. The provision of military personnel in military units, their psychological state should be the focus of special attention... You can list a lot of suggestions. If the implementation of some of them begins, it will be possible to assume that someone is taking steps towards eliminating the existing problems. But currently there are no changes observed.