Valeh Barshadly
| Valeh Barshadly Valeh Bərşadlı |
|
|---|---|
| Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan | |
|
In office September 5, 1991 – December 11, 1991 |
|
| President | Ayaz Mutalibov, Abulfaz Elchibey |
| Preceded by | office established |
| Succeeded by | Tajeddin Mehdiyev |
| Chief of General Staff of Azerbaijani Armed Forces | |
|
In office December 11, 1991 – September 4, 1992 |
|
| Preceded by | Colonel Rufat Amirov (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Colonel General Safar Abiyev (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
July 6, 1927 Gubadly, Azerbaijan |
| Died | May 15, 1999 (aged 71) Baku, Azerbaijan |
| Religion | Islam |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch |
 Azerbaijani Armed Forces
|
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
Valeh Barshadly Eyyub oglu (Azerbaijani: Valeh Bərşadlı Eyyub oğlu) (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.
Barshadly was born on July 6, 1927 in Gubadly, Azerbaijan. 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.
In the 1970s, Barshadly was Deputy Commander of the 3rd Shock Army stationed in East Germany. While the First Secretary of Azerbaijan SSR, Heydar Aliyev invited Valeh Barshadly from Germany to lead the military lyceum and the naval school in Zikh, just outside Baku, to increase the number of professional Azeri officers. The number of Azeri officers were to grow by 50%.
Barshadly has played a significant role in training Azerbaijani officers 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.
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