“GEGHARD”
SCIENTIFIC ANALYTICAL
FOUNDATION
2025
2025
Since the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, protests among participants of military operations in Azerbaijan have become regular. Many, even those awarded medals, complain that the state has neglected them. Through these protests, they demand from the authorities disability status, veteran status, pension increases, employment, and other support.
In April 2021, a group of war veterans held a protest in front of the Ministry of Social Security, complaining that they had been injured during the war, their health had deteriorated, yet they received no support from the state.
In June of the same year, another group protested near the ministry, stating that they were unable to find work after returning from the war. Meanwhile, participants of a separate protest gathered in front of the Ministry of Defense, complaining about the denial of disability status. "They demand 4,000 manats for disability status at the military hospital," one protester claimed.
In early April 2022, a group of veterans held a protest near the building of the Ministry of Social Security. They complained that the process of obtaining disability status takes too long, and some are unable to even receive proper treatment. One of the veterans complained that despite receiving severe injuries during the war, he was given only a 3rd degree disability status with a pension of 88 manats (20,000 drams), which is very small.
In mid-April, veterans also held a protest near the building of the state insurance company "Azərsığorta". "We need treatment, but they don't give us money," the participants complained.
In June of the same year, participants of another protest near the Ministry of Social Security building even broke in the building.
By April 2023, yet another protest took place near the ministry, with one participant stating, "Officials' sons have dollars, but I have medicines."
In November, war veterans organized another protest, during which the vice-president of the Veterans Union, Jalil Khalilov, briefly approached the group but left without listening to their concerns.
Apart from protesting, some of them have tried to make their voices heard by approaching media outlets. For example, in December 2021, the website "Region Xəbərləri" published a video where two war participants, residents of Khalaj village in the Ujar region, present their problems: they have no jobs after the war and are unable to support their families. "We don't want disability status or veteran status. We want jobs. The employment center doesn't want to see us. In the Ujar region, they hire people for money," they said.
In September 2022, Jafarli Oguz Rustam oglu wrote a letter to the editorial office of the "Teref.az" news outlet. He emphasized that he participated in the war, was awarded medals, but he is not being granted veteran status. "When it comes to granting veteran status, they say, 'No, you didn't participate in the war.' How long can I wait?" Rustam oglu wrote in his letter.
Elshan Asgerov approached "REAL TV" with the same issue. He is also a war participant, continued his service afterward, has medals, but hasn't received veteran status.
Another war participant presented his unemployment problem to the same news outlet.
In August 2024, Mammadov Zamig Rasim oglu wrote a letter to the "Hürriyyət" newspaper. He had been in service for 11 years and participated in both the 2020 and 2023 wars unleashed against Artsakh. He mentioned that he is being treated at the military hospital of the Ministry of Defense, but he is denied the disability status. "I only receive 80 manats from the state," he wrote. "I live in a rented place and need at least 175 manats each month for treatment. I have appealed to officials multiple times, and at every meeting, they reassured me everything would be resolved, only to send me on my way."
These grievances, however, reflect only a part of the Azerbaijani reality. Under conditions of limited press freedom, the voices of many protesters are not heard, uprisings against the Aliyev regime are often not covered, and some, not expecting any change, prefer not to speak up about the problems.