The Ministry of Internal Affairs was first established under the government of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic upon its proclamation of independence on May 28, 1918. Being a government authority in charge of the police force, it played a vital role in state building of Azerbaijan. However, on April 28, 1920 when Azerbaijan fell under the Soviet rule, the ministry was transferred under the authority of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR. The employees of the ministry distinguished themselves during the Great Patriotic War with about 800 of them receiving various awards and medals for courage and struggle against Nazi Germany. After restoration of independence of Azerbaijan on October 18, 1991 when the ministry was re-established as the Ministry of Azerbaijan Republic, Azerbaijani law enforcement employees fought during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with 932 of them killed during the war. Sixty six of the police employees received the National Hero of Azerbaijan award, 86 of them were given the Azerbaijani Flag Order and 247 with other medals and orders of Azerbaijan Republic. In 1992, Azerbaijan joined the International Criminal Police Organization and the National Central Bureau of Interpol was established within the Ministry of Internal Affairs on November 24, 1992. Police Academy was established at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan on the basis of the N. Rzayev Special Police College pursuant to the Presidential Decree of May 23, 1992 approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan on June 9, 1992. On June 30, 2004 the Department of Internal Security was created within the ministry to conduct corporate control over the MIA services, prevention of activities incompatible with the service of Azerbaijani police, exposure of corrupt officers, etc.
Educational institutions
Police academy
Under the decision of the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan, the Polis Academy was created as a school preparing ordinary militias and commanders in 1921. It operated in Baku till 1936. This school was moved to Mardaken district of Baku in the same year. In 1957 the Militia School of Baku was transformed into the Secondary Special Militia School of Baku of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs. The diploma of the secondary lawyer was presented to the school graduates. The education lasts for two years in the school. During 1957-1961, the school prepared specialists for several countries such as Georgia, Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria, Altai, Irkutsk, Krasnodar, Kuybichev, Novosibirsk, Kemerovo, Saratov and tens of other cities and countries.
International relations
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan keeps close cooperative relationships with the United Nations Organization, European Union, The Organization of Security of Cooperation in Europe, European Council, International Organization for Migration, and International Organization of the Red Cross and other international and regional organizations. This Ministry also maintains close cooperation with the Black Sea Organization for Economic Cooperation, the Organization for Economic Cooperation, GUAM and the Initiative of Cooperation in Southeastern Europe.
The structure of the Ministry
The secretariat
The head steering department
Orderly divisions control department
The Head Investigation Department
The Head Inquiry Department
The Head Department for Combat with Organized Crime
The Department for Struggle against drugs
The Department for Internal Security
The Department for Criminality Investigations
The Head Department for Statistic and Operative Information
