President Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree establishing a presidential pension for the family members of deminers who lose their lives or die from injuries sustained during demining operations due to the detonation of explosive ordnance.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that under the new decree, the monthly amount of the presidential pension has been set at 700 manats. The pension will be distributed in equal parts among the eligible family members of the deceased, including widows or widowers, parents, and children under the age of 18 (or up to 23 for those enrolled in full-time education). The decree also covers siblings raised in orphanages and grandparents who have no other first-degree relatives.
The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population will be responsible for the disbursement of these funds, which will be allocated from the state budget. Notably, the decree has retroactive effect, meaning it applies to the families of deminers who lost their lives in the line of duty prior to this decree coming into force, with payments commencing from the date of the decree's enactment.
Demining remains a critical priority for Azerbaijan as the country continues extensive restoration and reconstruction efforts in its liberated territories. Since the end of the 44-day war in 2020, Azerbaijan has faced a significant landmine threat, necessitating large-scale humanitarian demining operations to ensure the safe return of internally displaced persons and the development of regional infrastructure. This new social protection measure underscores the state's commitment to supporting those who risk their lives to clear the lands of explosive remnants of war.
