Country Azerbaijan Size 2,500 | Allegiance Azerbaijan Headquarters Baku | |
Active December 25, 1991 - present Branch Special State Protection Service | ||
The Azerbaijani National Guard (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan Milli Qvardiyası) is an armed force of the Government of Azerbaijan, and operates as a semi-independent entity. The Guard was definitely active in December 1996 but now appears to have been incorporated into the Special State Protection Service. The guard was established on the December 25, 1991.
The Special State Protection Service (SSPS) of Azerbaijan is a military unit subordinate to the President of Azerbaijan. Its responsibilities include organization of the President of Azerbaijan, the protection of the National Parliament, The Office of Azerbaijan President (also known as Presidential Administration), the Cabinet of Ministers, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, the Constitutional Court, the Central Election Commission and other public facilities as well as the protection of foreign heads of state on the territory of Azerbaijan.
One of the most important tasks of the SPSS is the safety of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline and the South Caucasus Pipeline. NATO is providing the service with several helicopters and vehicles in order to safeguard the pipeline.
The National Guard appears to have a wartime role as part of Azerbaijan's Land Forces.
Other law enforcement bodies in Azerbaijan include the Internal Troops of Azerbaijan and the State Border Service and its Coast Guard subcomponent.