“GEGHARD”
SCIENTIFIC ANALYTICAL
FOUNDATION
2025
2025
2024-08-16
In Azerbaijan, a vicious phenomenon has become a subject of heated public debate: the sale of food intended for soldiers, the so-called "soldier's ration" (Azerbaijani: əsgər payı). It is evident that this process involves the direct participation of individuals connected to the military, but it is civilians who sell in the market. In Azerbaijan, food labeled "soldier's ration" is sold both in stores and in other places. The trade takes place secretly or online through social networks. Recently, a person named Farhad Babaev posted the following announcement on Facebook: "150 jars of jam for sale, price 0.50 manat; the whole is for sale."
Food intended for the Azerbaijani army also has consumers in the capital, Baku. Fearing possible criminal repercussions, sellers often tear off labels from food packages, damage them, or make them unreadable. This discounted food can be found in small neighborhood shops throughout Baku. The main consumers are regular customers of the stores and acquaintances of the shopkeepers. Recently, a resident of Baku raised the issue of selling "soldier's ration" food in Azerbaijani stores, presenting a similar product purchased from a store to the Azerbaijani media. The food being sold was apple jam produced by "Azersun Holding" and labeled "soldier's ration".
Food designated for the Azerbaijani military is being sold not only in the capital but has also been discovered in large cities such as Sumgayit and Gandzak (Ganja). This issue has ignited complaints by opposition members and ordinary citizens. Habib Muntazir, an Azerbaijani citizen, posted a photo of a product labeled "soldier's Ration" on his X account with the following caption: "In the village of Gazigurdali, Barda district, they are selling "soldier's ration" preserves, which, by the way, are not for sale."
Food intended for soldiers can also be found in Azerbaijani schools. In a photo published by Hamam Times in 2018, butter labeled "soldier's ration" and "not for sale" is clearly visible. The sale took place at school No. 26 in Ganja.
It should be noted that the illegalities taking place in the Republic of Azerbaijan are carried out under the patronage and orders of individuals connected to the authorities, the lower echelons of power. Proof of this is the incident that occurred in Tovuz. Residents had bought cigarettes, water, food, etc. for the soldiers, and then, on the road to the village, had handed over the purchased goods to the police.
One of them had stolen 4 boxes of cigarettes and food and then sold them. Habib Muntazir, an Azerbaijani blogger living in Germany and an opposition figure, had revealed the identity of this policeman on social media as the son of the chairman of the 106th electoral commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
As the facts testify, corruption and embezzlement are present in almost all state structures. The army is also not an exclusion from the exploitation by the Aliyev regime. It should be noted that the commercial transactions taking place in the Azerbaijani army begin with the sale of food intended for soldiers and reach as far as the sale of organs of dead soldiers.