The activity of the Internal Troops in our country existed in previous periods under different names and different service goals. The military institution, which fulfilled the tasks corresponding to the appointment of the Internal Troops, was created for the first time during the ADR . In order to familiarize the population with military affairs, maintain stability and protect law and order in the capital of the republic, a voluntary detachment of soldiers was created by decree of the Parliament on June 1, 1919. On March 27, 1920, on the basis of the decision of the State Defense Committee of the ADR, the volunteer units of the Assistance Regiment of the Baku organization were placed at the disposal of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

During the Soviet period, the Internal Troops also existed for the purpose of protecting public order and performing special tasks as an institution with military status within the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

After Azerbaijan gained independence, the creation of the Internal Troops began. The creation of new military units belonging to our independent state on the basis of the military units of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR located in Baku, Sumgait and Ganja at that time was an important event in terms of military construction. For the recruitment of military units of the Internal Troops, conscripts were selected by military personnel who had completed full military service and sent to military units. On March 9, 1995, with the corresponding Decree signed by the national leader Heydar Aliyev, March 12 was declared the Day of the Internal Troops.  On March 12, 1992, Bilajari, Sumgait, and Ganja military units of the Internal Troops started fighting against the Armenian invaders, for the independence and territorial integrity of our country. Sergeant Hatamkhan Babayev, Lieutenant Rafig Ismayilov, and Senior Lieutenant Ruber Safaraliyev were the first martyrs of the Internal Troops who fought for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan in the villages of Paparvand, Galaychilar, Manikli, Bash Guneypeya, Janyatag, and Gulyatag of Agdam region. The day of that battle is symbolically defined as the Day of Internal Troops. 680 people were martyred, 1177 people were injured, and 5 people were missing in this battle. In the first Karabakh war, 9 soldiers of the Internal Troops were awarded the honorary title of National Hero of Azerbaijan.

Heydar Aliyev has always focused on the service activities of the internal affairs bodies, including the Internal Troops. The Great Leader clearly showed how this service plays an important role in the life of the state in general, saying that "organization of the Internal Troops in the right direction is a very important issue in the process of state building." In the formation of the troops, there were unparalleled historical merit of our National Leader.

Since 2003, a new stage in the development of the Internal Troops has begun. Today, the President of Azerbaijan, Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev pays special attention and care to the improvement and professional training of the Internal Troops, which are an integral part of the internal affairs bodies of the country, he regularly familiarized himself with the conditions created for military personal in the military units of the Internal Troops and interested in their combat training. Provision of new military units of the Internal Troops created in the regions is also in the attention of President Ilham Aliyev.

Renewal of the material and technical base, establishment of international military cooperation relations, raising of the Internal Troops to a level comparable to the corresponding institutions of the advanced countries of Europe in terms of combat readiness, comprehensive equipment, modern weapons and technics was one of the important conditions for achieving Victory.

During the Patriotic War, which lasted from September 27 to November 9, 2020, under the unified command of the victorious Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, the servicemen of the Internal Troops of our Armed Forces won a magnificent victory over the Armenian invaders, adhering to the honorable martial traditions. The personnel of the Internal Troops fought bravely against the enemy in all directions of the front line, demonstrated high patriotism, professionalism and modern fighting ability in the struggle for the liberation of our lands, and crushed the heads of the Armenian invaders with an "iron fist". 4 military personnel of the Internal Troops were awarded the title of "Hero of the Patriotic War" for their example of heroism, 39 people were awarded with the orders "Zafar", "Karabagh", "Azerbaijan Bairagy", "Reshadet", hundreds of military personnel were awarded with a total of 1833 medals.

According to the relevant decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the personnel of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, together with the police officers maintain the public order in the liberated from occupation territories of Aghdam, Fuzuli, Jabrayil, Zangilan, Gubadli, Kalbajar, Khojavand, Khojaly, Tartar regions and the city of Shusha. They are also obliged to protect vital facilities, prevent terrorism, sabotage and other illegal activities, monitor the special regime of entry and exit to these territories.  At the same time, they were assigned to defend the city of Shusha.

During the Patriotic War, in the protection of public order and internal security, in the neutralization of armed criminal gangs, and in general, in the execution of service-combat tasks, the Internal Troops were always distinguished by their professionalism and determination.

Thanks to our President, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, the study of the best practices of foreign colleagues, the in-depth acquisition of modern technologies, new equipment, weapons and special protective equipment by our military personnel, the adaptation of their knowledge and skills to international standards, and the improvement of the standards of the training educational process are developing.

The heroic soldier of the Victorious Supreme Commander, the personnel of the Internal Troops serve the President, the state and the people with love and loyalty.

Recommended literature:

1. Daxili Qoşunlar: [20 il vətənin xidmətində] /Azərb. Resp. Daxili İşlər Nazirliyi ; məsləhətçi. R. Usubov, Z. Həsənov ; tərt.-müəl. T. Məmmədova; [red. R. Sarıyev ; fotolar AzərTAc-ın və DQBİ-nin Mətbuat xidmətinin fotoarxivi]. - Bakı: Elm və təhsil, 2012. - 392 s.
2. Daxili qoşunlar /Azərb. Resp. Daxili İşlər Nazirliyi ; məsləhətçi. R. Usubov, Z. Həsənov ; tərt.-müəl. T. Məmmədova ; [red. Y. Abbasov ; fotolar AzərTAc-ın və DQBİ-nin Mətbuat xidmətinin fotoarxivi]. - Bakı: Nurlan, 2007. - 160 s.
3. Əliyarlı, İltifat Musa oğlu. Azərbaycan Daxili İşlər Orqanlarının tarixi: ensiklopedik soraq kitabı / İ. M. Əliyarlı, T. R. Behbudov ; elmi red. İ. Ö. Vəliyev. I kitab : Xronoloji toplu : 1840-2003-cü illər. - Bakı : Azərbaycan Milli Ensiklopediyası NPB, 2003. - 248 s.
4. Əliyarlı, İltifat Musa oğlu. Azərbaycan Polisinin yaranması və təşəkkülü tarixindən : 1918-1920-ci illər: qısa tarixi tədqiqat / İ. M. Əliyarlı ; elmi red. Ş. Qasımov. - Bakı : Mütərcim, 2018. - 128 s. .