Special Purpose Police Unit (Azerbaijan)
Encyclopedia
Special Purpose Police Unit ( (XTPD); - initially OMON) or OPON (Otryad Politsii Osobogo Naznacheniya) was a special forces detachment unit within the Ministry of Internal Affairs
of Azerbaijan
in the beginning of 1990's with a purpose of fighting illegally armed Armenia
n groups in the area of Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. The first body of the unit consisted of 3,000 policemen.
From April 29 until May 4, 1991, OPON detachments participated in Operation Ring
, together with units of the 4th Army with the purpose of passport and registration verification and disarming armed individuals in Chaykend and Martunashen
in Khanlar Rayon of Azerbaijan. During the operation, more than 300 people were arrested and deported from Azerbaijan.
The initial name OMON
was changed to OPON after declaration of independence of Azerbaijan. The unit was dissolved by the government after OPON revolt led by Colonel
Rovshan Javadov on March 13, 1995. On March 17, 1995 security forces of Azerbaijan sieged and stormed the OPON headquarters in the outskirts of Baku
where Javadov and more than 50 people were killed.
Minister of Internal Affairs (Azerbaijan)
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan is an Azerbaijani government ministry for internal affairs, which is responsible for keeping the order, security and safety of population, officials, buildings and structures in the country...
of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
in the beginning of 1990's with a purpose of fighting illegally armed Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
n groups in the area of Nagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh is a landlocked region in the South Caucasus, lying between Lower Karabakh and Zangezur and covering the southeastern range of the Lesser Caucasus mountains...
conflict. The first body of the unit consisted of 3,000 policemen.
From April 29 until May 4, 1991, OPON detachments participated in Operation Ring
Operation Ring
Operation Ring was the code name given to the May 1991 military operation conducted by Soviet Internal Security Forces and OMON units in the region of Shahumyan, north of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast of the Azerbaijan SSR...
, together with units of the 4th Army with the purpose of passport and registration verification and disarming armed individuals in Chaykend and Martunashen
Martunashen
Martunashen is a village in the Goygol Rayon of Azerbaijan....
in Khanlar Rayon of Azerbaijan. During the operation, more than 300 people were arrested and deported from Azerbaijan.
The initial name OMON
OMON
OMOH is a generic name for the system of special units of militsiya within the Russian and earlier the Soviet MVD...
was changed to OPON after declaration of independence of Azerbaijan. The unit was dissolved by the government after OPON revolt led by Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Rovshan Javadov on March 13, 1995. On March 17, 1995 security forces of Azerbaijan sieged and stormed the OPON headquarters in the outskirts of Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
where Javadov and more than 50 people were killed.