Valeh Barshadly
Encyclopedia
Valeh Barshadly Eyyub oglu (July 6, 1927 - May 15, 1999) also spelled as Valeh Barshadli, was the first Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan
after restoration of its independence in 1991.
. Throughout his early years, he completed a military school, Military Academy of Tank Forces
of USSR, Military Academy of General Staff of Soviet Armed Forces
and was the youngest officer of Azerbaijani nationality to receive the rank of a General
.
, Heydar Aliyev
invited Valeh Barshadly from Germany to lead the military lyceum and the naval school in Zikh
, just outside of Baku, to increase the number of professional Azeri officers. The number of Azeri officers were to grow by 50%.
during Soviet rule and in re-establishing an Azerbaijani Army. The decree to establish the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan was signed on September 5, 1991. Barshadly who was a well experienced general was to lead the ministry. During first few days, the Ministry consisted of 4 people: General Valeh Barshadly, General Arif Salahov, Colonel
Telman Mehdiyev and General Zaur Rzayev. On October 9, 1991 the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan SSR passed a bill about "Establishment of self-defense forces" to speed up the process. The first unit of the new army was formed on the basis of the 18-110 military unit of mechanized infantry
of the 4th Army located in Shikhovo, south of Baku. When the ministry was being formed, every officer had only one pistol. In general, Barshadly was in favor of creating a professional army on the basis of contractual relationship between the army and servicemen. He proposed to create 16,000 men brigades with numbering of and assigning a flag to each tabor. In addition, he favored creation of additional raid
tabors. However, his offer was rejected by the parliament and it was decided to create the army on basis of conscription
. First two brigades were established on conscripted and volunteered servicemen.
Realizing the access to international community was important, in November 1991, Barshadly made attempts to establish press service of the ministry for timely communications with the press and appointed Ramiz Melikov to lead the department. During times of disorganization, Barshadly was also proponent of creation of partisan groups
to fight the enemy but never succeeded in doing so.
On December 11, 1991 Barshadly was replaced by Tajeddin Mehdiyev, and appointed the Deputy Minister of Defense and Chief of General Staff of Azerbaijani Armed Forces. During his term as Chief of Staff, Azerbaijani army has achieved successful military victories on the Karabakh front
. He also prevented the ammunition from being destroyed when the remaining Soviet army was pulling out of Azerbaijan in 1992.
On September 4, 1992 Barshadly was relieved from his duties as Deputy Minister and Chief of the General Staff by a presidential decree of Abulfaz Elchibey. Some allege he resigned himself, under pressure from the Popular Front of Azerbaijan. In later years he worked as the rector of the Jamshid Nakhichevanski Military Lyceum
and was again appointed the deputy Minister of Defense and Chief of Staff under Heydar Aliyev but then he resigned and return to the lyceum where he worked until end of his life.
.
On July 6, 2007, Azerbaijani government held the 80th anniversary of Valeh Barshadly.
Minister of Defense (Azerbaijan)
The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan is the Azerbaijani government ministry, associated with the Azerbaijani military. The ministry is responsible for keeping Azerbaijan defended against external threats, preserving its territorial integrity, waging war on behalf of Azerbaijan , and the...
after restoration of its independence in 1991.
Early life
Barshadly was born on July 6, 1927 in Gubadly, AzerbaijanAzerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
. Throughout his early years, he completed a military school, Military Academy of Tank Forces
Armoured warfare
Armoured warfare or tank warfare is the use of armoured fighting vehicles in modern warfare. It is a major component of modern methods of war....
of USSR, Military Academy of General Staff of Soviet Armed Forces
General Staff Academy (Russia)
The General Staff Academy of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation was founded in 1936 in Moscow by Leonid Govorov. It was the senior Soviet and now Russian professional school for officers....
and was the youngest officer of Azerbaijani nationality to receive the rank of a General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
.
Soviet Azerbaijan
In 1970's, Barshadly was Deputy Commander of the 3rd Shock Army stationed in East Germany. While the First Secretary of Azerbaijan SSRAzerbaijan SSR
The Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Azerbaijan SSR for short, was one of the republics that made up the former Soviet Union....
, Heydar Aliyev
Heydar Aliyev
Heydar Alirza oglu Aliyev , also spelled as Heidar Aliev, Geidar Aliev, Haydar Aliyev, Geydar Aliyev was the third President of Azerbaijan for the New Azerbaijan Party from June 1993 to October 2003, when his son Ilham Aliyev succeeded him.From 1969 till 1982, Aliyev was also the leader of Soviet...
invited Valeh Barshadly from Germany to lead the military lyceum and the naval school in Zikh
Zig, Baku
Zığ is a municipality in Baku, Azerbaijan. It has a population of 5,755....
, just outside of Baku, to increase the number of professional Azeri officers. The number of Azeri officers were to grow by 50%.
Azerbaijan Republic
Barshadly has played a significant role in training Azerbaijani officersAzerbaijani people
The Azerbaijanis are a Turkic-speaking people living mainly in northwestern Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as in the neighbourhood states, Georgia, Russia and formerly Armenia. Commonly referred to as Azeris or Azerbaijani Turks , they also live in a wider area from the Caucasus to...
during Soviet rule and in re-establishing an Azerbaijani Army. The decree to establish the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan was signed on September 5, 1991. Barshadly who was a well experienced general was to lead the ministry. During first few days, the Ministry consisted of 4 people: General Valeh Barshadly, General Arif Salahov, Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Telman Mehdiyev and General Zaur Rzayev. On October 9, 1991 the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan SSR passed a bill about "Establishment of self-defense forces" to speed up the process. The first unit of the new army was formed on the basis of the 18-110 military unit of mechanized infantry
Mechanized infantry
Mechanized infantry are infantry equipped with armored personnel carriers , or infantry fighting vehicles for transport and combat ....
of the 4th Army located in Shikhovo, south of Baku. When the ministry was being formed, every officer had only one pistol. In general, Barshadly was in favor of creating a professional army on the basis of contractual relationship between the army and servicemen. He proposed to create 16,000 men brigades with numbering of and assigning a flag to each tabor. In addition, he favored creation of additional raid
Raid (military)
Raid, also known as depredation, is a military tactic or operational warfare mission which has a specific purpose and is not normally intended to capture and hold terrain, but instead finish with the raiding force quickly retreating to a previous defended position prior to the enemy forces being...
tabors. However, his offer was rejected by the parliament and it was decided to create the army on basis of conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
. First two brigades were established on conscripted and volunteered servicemen.
Realizing the access to international community was important, in November 1991, Barshadly made attempts to establish press service of the ministry for timely communications with the press and appointed Ramiz Melikov to lead the department. During times of disorganization, Barshadly was also proponent of creation of partisan groups
Partisan (military)
A partisan is a member of an irregular military force formed to oppose control of an area by a foreign power or by an army of occupation by some kind of insurgent activity...
to fight the enemy but never succeeded in doing so.
On December 11, 1991 Barshadly was replaced by Tajeddin Mehdiyev, and appointed the Deputy Minister of Defense and Chief of General Staff of Azerbaijani Armed Forces. During his term as Chief of Staff, Azerbaijani army has achieved successful military victories on the Karabakh front
Nagorno-Karabakh War
The Nagorno-Karabakh War was an armed conflict that took place from February 1988 to May 1994, in the small enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in southwestern Azerbaijan, between the majority ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh backed by the Republic of Armenia, and the Republic of Azerbaijan...
. He also prevented the ammunition from being destroyed when the remaining Soviet army was pulling out of Azerbaijan in 1992.
On September 4, 1992 Barshadly was relieved from his duties as Deputy Minister and Chief of the General Staff by a presidential decree of Abulfaz Elchibey. Some allege he resigned himself, under pressure from the Popular Front of Azerbaijan. In later years he worked as the rector of the Jamshid Nakhichevanski Military Lyceum
Jamshid Nakhichevanski Military Lyceum
Jamshid Nakhichevanski Military Lyceum , also known as Military Lyceum named after Jamshid Nakhichevanski, is a state school, specializing in education and training of students in military science and preparing them for professional military service. The lyceum is located in the suburbs of Baku,...
and was again appointed the deputy Minister of Defense and Chief of Staff under Heydar Aliyev but then he resigned and return to the lyceum where he worked until end of his life.
Death
Barshadly died on May 15, 1999. He was buried with honors on May 18, 1999 at the Avenue of the Honored Ones CemeteryFakhri Khiyaban
The Alley of Honor is a public cemetery and memorial in Baku, Azerbaijan. The Alley includes burials of famed Azerbaijanis and Azerbaijan-affiliated expatriates, including several Presidents, scientists and artists...
.
On July 6, 2007, Azerbaijani government held the 80th anniversary of Valeh Barshadly.
See also
- Azerbaijani Army
- Ministers of Defense of Azerbaijan RepublicMinister of Defense (Azerbaijan)The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan is the Azerbaijani government ministry, associated with the Azerbaijani military. The ministry is responsible for keeping Azerbaijan defended against external threats, preserving its territorial integrity, waging war on behalf of Azerbaijan , and the...