Azerbaijan is considering a significant increase in rank and position-based salaries for military personnel as part of a new initiative to enhance the social welfare of the country's armed forces.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that this proposal was included in the 2025 annual report of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) and was formally presented for discussion during a meeting of the Human Rights Committee of the Milli Majlis (National Assembly).
Proposed increases for salaries and housing compensation
According to the Ombudsman's proposal, the monetary allowance paid to military personnel (excluding those in active term-limited military service) based on both their official positions and military ranks should be increased. This move is designed to align military compensation with the evolving economic landscape in Azerbaijan.
Furthermore, the document highlights the current real estate market conditions and the rising costs of rental housing. Consequently, it is deemed necessary to increase the amount of monetary compensation for temporary housing rentals provided to military personnel to ensure they can secure adequate living conditions.
War participant status and child benefits
The report emphasizes the importance of clarifying the status of individuals who participated in combat operations for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan during the period from the First Garabagh War to the Patriotic War. This includes participants in the following military operations:
- The April clashes of 2016;
- The Tovuz clashes in July 2020;
- The 2023 anti-terror operations and other significant military engagements.
Additionally, the Ombudsman proposed that the benefits paid to the children of personnel during their active military service be adjusted to match the national subsistence minimum for children in Azerbaijan.
Deferment for distance learning students
Beyond financial measures, the Ombudsman is advocating for legislative changes in the field of education. A proposed amendment to Article 21 of the Law "On Military Duty and Military Service" (regarding deferment of call-up to continue education) has been brought to the agenda.
The proposal suggests that the right to military service deferment should also be extended to individuals enrolled in distance learning (correspondence) programs, a measure intended to support the educational development of the nation's youth.
The social protection of military personnel remains a top priority for the government of Azerbaijan. Under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, the state has consistently implemented programs to improve the living standards, housing, and medical care of those serving in the armed forces, particularly following the restoration of territorial integrity in the Garabagh region.
