In accordance with the Order of National Leader Heydar Aliyev "On the establishment of the day of the professional holiday of employees of National Security of Azerbaijan Republic" dated on March 23, 1997, March 28th is celebrated each year as the day of the professional holiday of employees of national security. This historic day is linked to the founding of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic's (ADR) intelligence and counter-intelligence agency on March 28, 1919, to secure state security.

After the adoption of the “Declaration of Independence” on 28 May 1918, the need emerged to establish a security service alongside the national army in order to effectively combat internal and external threats, prevent possible acts of terror, thwart disruptive activities and provide security within state borders. The government of Azerbaijan considered it expedient to establish the new body within the Ministry of War. The appointment of former tsarist army generals Samad bay Mehmandarov as war minister, Aliagha Shikhlinsky as deputy minister and Mammad bay Sulkevich as chief-of-staff gave a strong impetus to the emergence of intelligence and counter-intelligence activities along with army building.  In particular, on 25 February 1919, the draft law “On the staff of the Ministry of War” was unanimously adopted by the country's parliament, an intelligence and counter-intelligence unit was established within general-quartermaster department of the General Staff. Mammadbaghir Sheikhzamanli was appointed as the first head of the structure, followed by his brother Naghi Sheikhzamanli.

The capture of Petrovsk and Derbent by Denikin's army in May 1919 and the advance on the borders of Azerbaijan and Georgia further aggravated the situation in Baku. In order to prevent the Denikin threat and strengthen defenses, a new body, the State Defense Committee, was set up and martial law was declared in the country. The Organization to Fight against Counter-Revolution was established on 11 June 1919 due to the need for an independent secret service that would perform counter-intelligence functions.

By an order of the Chairman of the Government and the State Defense Committee, Nasib bay Yusifbayli, a member of the “Musavat” party, MP Mammadbaghir bay Sheykhzamanov was appointed chief of the Organization. Mirfattah Musavi, a member of the “Hummat” party, was the deputy chief.

Working in the Organization were Azerbaijanis, Turks, Russians, Ukrainians, Georgians, peoples of the North Caucasus and representatives of other ethnicities. Eight territorial (district) branches of the Organization were established in Baku. These branches were headed by Mammadtaghi Dadashov, Seyfulla Azimzade, Mammad Hajizade, Gasim Ismayilov, Alexander Shengeliya, Gambar Tahirov, Abdulaziz Taghiyev and Islam Aliyev. The Organization had censorship, agent and surveillance units, and a secretariat.

About two months before the occupation of Azerbaijan by Bolshevik Russia, counter-intelligence activities in Baku were carried out by the Information Department established within the Governor-General's Office.

After the occupation of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic by Bolshevik Russia on 28 April 1920, a campaign of repressions was launched against leaders of the republic, military and security personnel. Afrasiyab Aghalarov, Mammadbaghir Sheykhzamanli, Alakbar khan Shahsuvarov were shot without any questioning for their service for the independent Azerbaijani Republic. Some were arrested, others, including Naghi Sheykhzamanli, were forced to emigrate.

The Soviet government established local Extraordinary Commissions (Cheka) to combat counterrevolution and sabotage in the territories they occupied. Immediately after the occupation of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the same process began in our country, and on 29 April 1920, the Azerbaijani Extraordinary Commission (Azerbaijani Cheka) was established. Since the entity initially operated jointly with the Special Department of the 11th Red Army due to staffing and technical shortcomings, Semyon Andreyevich Pankratov headed the Azerbaijani Cheka along with the Special Department of the 11th Army.

At a meeting of the Revolutionary Committee of Azerbaijan on 14 May 1920, Eyyub Khanbudagov was appointed chairman of the Extraordinary Commission and Pankratov was appointed deputy chairman of the Extraordinary Commission. Thus, the Azerbaijani Extraordinary Commission was separated from the Special Department of the 11th Red Army on 18 May 1920 and started operating independently.

According to the 6 February 1922 resolution of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, Cheka and some of its local bodies were abolished and the State Political Department (SPD) was established on its basis. In Azerbaijan, a decision was made at a meeting of the Board of the Central Executive Committee on 7 August 1926 to replace Azerbaijani Cheka with the SPD.

By the 10 July 1934 decision of the USSR Central Executive Committee, the United State Political Department (USPD) was abolished as an independent body. On its basis, the Main State Security Department (SSSD) was established and incorporated into the USSR People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs (PCIA). The reorganization of state security agencies stemmed from significant changes in operational conditions and external threats. The current situation dictated the restructuring of the security services. By the 20 July 1941 decree of the Board of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, in connection with transition to wartime conditions, the PCIA and the PCSS were merged and renamed the PCIA.

Due to the situation, the structure and responsibilities of the security agencies changed frequently. As a result, by the decree of the Board of the Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan SSR, the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs was renamed the People's Commissariat of State Security from 26 May 1943.

After the war, as part of the reorganization of state security agencies, the military apparatus was abolished. As a result, the structure of the Soviet state security agencies was greatly simplified.

By the 7 March 1953 joint decision of the plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU, the USSR Council of Ministers and the USSR Supreme Soviet, the USSR Ministry of State Security and the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs were merged into one body - the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs.

However, a decree was issued on 13 March 1954, establishing the State Security Committee (KGB) under the USSR Council of Ministers. It included the head offices and independent departments of the former Ministry of State Security, which existed until March 1953.

By the 5 July 1978 decision of the Board of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the State Security Committee under the USSR Council of Ministers was renamed the USSR State Security Committee. In accordance with this decision of the Board of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, by the order of the chairman of the State Security Committee of the USSR, Y. V. Andropov, on 13 July 1978, the decision of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR was implemented on the ground.

After regaining its independence in 1991 and the recognition of the sovereignty of our country by the vast majority of world powers, the pressure on the Republic of Azerbaijan and domestic and foreign threats intensified. All this aggravated the already complicated socio-political situation in Azerbaijan. The severe socio-economic crisis, chaos and anarchy in the country paralyzed public administration.

The tense situation in the country necessitated the reconstruction of the national security system and the implementation of priority tasks such as the protection of national interests. It was very difficult, important and vital to fulfill these tasks properly, as well as to abandon the principles of the security system, which only pursued the interests of the Soviet empire for 70 years, to break the existing stereotypes in society, and to create instead a national security body independent of any state and able to guard the interests of the Azerbaijani people.

By the decision of the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of National Security was established on the basis of the State Security Committee on 1 November 1991. This decision also highlighted the need to change the content and nature of the tasks facing security agencies, because if the entire potential of the State Security Committee was aimed at ensuring the existence and strategic interests of the Soviet empire in general, the main task of the Ministry of National Security was to protect the sovereignty, constitutional system, economic, defence and scientific-technical potential of the Republic of Azerbaijan, safeguard state secrets, prevent the intelligence and other subversive activities of the special services and organizations of foreign states, criminal groups and individuals, in short, to protect and safeguard the national interests of our people.

Returning to political power at the insistence of our people, Heydar Aliyev set principles and duties for special services to form professional human resources, improve their structure, define the activities of security agencies, and train them to perform their responsibilities in the interests of the people. Despite the existing foreign and domestic threats, security officials tried to build and implement their work on the instructions and recommendations of national leader Heydar Aliyev.

Significant qualitative changes achived in this sphere are always in the spotlight of the head of state. Due to the successful reforms of the head of state, who pursues the policy of building a strong army in the country, the activity of security bodies has risen to a new level. President Ilham Aliyev has always taken a comprehensive and systematic approach to the issue of security, keeping the implementation of structural reforms in this sphere at the centre of attention. As an important part of these reforms became the liquidation of the Ministry of National Security. By Decree No 706 of President Ilham Aliyev dated 14 December 2015, the State Security Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan were established on the basis of the Ministry of National Security of the Republic of Azerbaijan in order to increase the efficiency of special services and improve the public administration structure. This served primarily to improve the efficiency of the activities of the special services, bringing them in line with the requirements of the new times and improving the structure of state administration. These reforms created great opportunities for ensuring stability in Azerbaijan, which is one of the active members of the anti-terrorist coalition, and further strengthening measures to combat terrorism and smuggling.

Great attention and support to the security bodies in our country shows that the formation of a secure climate, defence of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country, and better protection of the security of our people is an important part of the activities of the Azerbaijani state.

Recommended literature:

1. Qasımov, Cəlal Əbil oğlu. Azərbaycanın təhlükəsizlik orqanları 100 ildə : tarix və müasirlik: monoqrafiya / C. Ə. Qasımov, X. Bağırov ; Azərbaycan Respublikası Dövlət Təhlükəsizliyi Xidmətinin Heydər Əliyev adına Akademiyası. - Bakı : DTX-nin Heydər Əliyev adına Akademiyasının nəşriyyatı, 2019. - 728 s.
2. Əliyeva, Firuzə Nuru qızı. Qloballaşma və Azərbaycanın milli təhlükəsizlik fəlsəfəsi / F. N. Əliyeva ; elmi red. A. M. Şükürov. - Bakı: Səda, 2008. - 163 s.
3. Qasımov, Cəlal Əbil oğlu. Cümhuriyyətin təhlükəsizlik orqanları : 1918-1920 / C. Ə. Qasımov ; elmi red., ön sözün müəl. M. C. Qasımlı ; red. A. Məmmədov ; Azərbaycan Respublikasının Prezidenti yanında Strateji Araşdırmalar Mərkəzi. - Baku : Vanur Poliqraf MMC, 2018. - 170 s.
4. Abdullayev, Fətəli Nəriman oğlu. Miqrasiya və milli təhlükəsizlik / F. N. Abdullayev ; elmi red. M. C. Qasımlı ; AMEA İnsan Hüquqları üzrə Elmi-Tədqiqat İnstitutu. - Bakı : Elm, 2011. - 284 s.
5. Azərbaycan təhlükəsizlik orqanları - 100 il : təhlükəsizlik tariximizin səhifələrindən: 1919-2019 / Azərbaycan Respublikası Dövlət Təhlükəsizliyi Xidməti. - Bakı : Şərq-Qərb, 2019. - 288 s.