According to Article 3 of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On Veterans”, the following persons are considered war veterans:
Persons who participated in military operations for the defence of the Motherland during the Second World War as part of the active army (navy), partisan formations or underground activities, as well as persons who participated in local wars and military conflicts on the territories of other countries as members of military formations and as specialists and advisers of the Armed Forces of the former USSR, the State Security Committee and the Ministry of Internal Affairs; persons who participated in military operations for the territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan; persons who participated in the armed struggle against bandit groups in the territories of Ukraine, Belarus and the Baltic republics from January 1, 1944 to December 31, 1951; persons permanently residing in the Republic of Azerbaijan who, during the Second World War, participated in military operations against Nazi Germany, its allies and imperialist Japan as members of national armies and partisan units in the territories of foreign countries; employees of special units who, during the Second World War, performed tasks in the interests of the army and navy within the rear boundaries of the fighting fronts or the operational zones of the fighting fleets; military personnel who served in the former Soviet army (navy), internal affairs and state security bodies in 1941–1945 but did not participate in military operations; persons who worked in enterprises, institutions and organisations in the city of Leningrad during the siege of Leningrad during the Second World War and were awarded the “For the Defence of Leningrad” medal or the “Resident of Besieged Leningrad” badge.
From January 1, 2022, in accordance with Order No. 3088 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated December 29, 2021, “On measures related to granting the title of ‘War Veteran’ to persons who participated in military operations for the territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan”, the granting of the title of “War Veteran” and the certificate of “War Veteran of the Republic of Azerbaijan” to persons who participated in military operations for the territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan during the period from September 27 to November 10, 2020, as well as the appointment and payment of the “Presidential pension for war veterans of the Republic of Azerbaijan”, is provided.
A war veteran certificate is required for a person to be considered a war veteran.
The title of war veteran and the relevant veteran certificate (including its duplicate) are issued, depending on the person's current place of service (employment), the last place of service (employment) for persons who have previously been discharged to the reserve or retired or whose employment contracts have been terminated, and the place to which civilian persons have been assigned, by the relevant authorities: the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Azerbaijan, State Security Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Foreign Intelligence Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan, State Border Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan, State Service for Mobilization and Conscription, Security Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, State Service of Special Communications and Information Security of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and State Agency for Protection of Strategic Facilities of the Republic of Azerbaijan, based on the decisions of the respective commissions established by them.
War veterans are paid a monthly Presidential pension of the Republic of Azerbaijan (80 manats).
This entitlement arises from the date the war veteran certificate is issued. Procedure: For persons who participated in military operations for the territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan during the period from September 27 to November 10, 2020, the title of “War Veteran” and the relevant certificate are issued by the institution where they served or worked. Subsequently, these institutions enter information about the persons to whom they have granted the title and certificate of “War Veteran” into the “Victory” subsystem of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population. As the final stage, based on this information, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population assigns the monthly Presidential pension (80 manats) to persons granted the title of “War Veteran”. The pension is assigned proactively through the electronic system without the war veteran having to apply or submit any documents. War veterans are also informed via SMS about this and about which bank they can obtain their bank card from, etc. Regardless of the month in which the pension is assigned, it is calculated from January 1, 2022 and transferred to the citizen's bank card. For veterans who were granted the entitlement earlier, the “War Veteran” status and pension are calculated from the date of assignment, while for participants of the Patriotic War, the “War Veteran” status and pension are calculated from January 1, 2022.
Organisation of self-employment: War veterans are involved in the self-employment programme on a priority and out-of-turn basis as soon as possible and are provided with assets to establish small family farms and enterprises;
Procedure: To receive this support, the person must meet the unemployment criteria (must not have an active employment contract, TIN, own a land share, or be a full-time student). The person must apply online to the Employment Subsystem (MAS), local territorial employment centres or DOST centres.
Paid public works: War veterans are ensured priority, out-of-turn involvement in the paid public works programme as soon as possible;
Procedure: To receive this support, the person must meet the unemployment criteria (must not have an active employment contract, TIN, own a land share, or be a full-time student). The person must apply online to the Employment Subsystem (MAS), local territorial employment centres or DOST centres.
Co-financing of wages in social jobs: War veterans are ensured priority, out-of-turn involvement in the programme for co-financing wages in social jobs as soon as possible;
Procedure: To receive this support, the person must meet the unemployment criteria (must not have an active employment contract, TIN, own a land share, or be a full-time student). The person must apply online to the Employment Subsystem (MAS), local territorial employment centres or DOST centres.
Education – Persons studying at state, municipal and private higher, secondary specialised and vocational education institutions who have been granted the title of “War Veteran” for participating in military operations for the territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan shall have their tuition fees paid from the state budget for the period during which they receive paid education at educational institutions of the Republic of Azerbaijan (excluding additional education).
Additional - A number of benefits are also provided for veterans in tax, labour legislation, etc.
NOTE: If a war veteran is a person with a war-related disability, the social security rights provided for persons with war-related disabilities shall apply to them.
