The Ministry of Defense (MOD) of Azerbaijan has decided to “establish law and order” in the country’s army.

The MOD has issued an official statement on personnel changes in Azerbaijan’s armed forces, APA news agency of the country reported citing the MOD press service.

“Such changes should be taken as natural. As a result of inspections carried out in different fields of the armed forces at the end of 2014, some servicemen were warned several times over shortcomings. The Defense Ministry made decisions on the servicemen who didn’t take account of previous warnings in accordance with the results of recent inspections on the frontline, some of them were demoted and some dismissed. Some of them were promoted for achievements. Such measures will be regularly carried out in the armed forces. We once again recommend media representatives not to disseminate information about demotion, promotion or dismissal of servicemen,” the statement reads. 

Corruption in the Azerbaijani army has reached such dimensions that it is no longer possible to turn a blind eye, and some employees have been dismissed from their positions.