Military parades in Azerbaijan

Currently, the semi-annual Day of the Armed Forces parade on 26 June is one of the biggest held in the former Soviet Union.

[6] The guest of honor at most parades is the President of Azerbaijan (attending as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces), who arrives at around 10am to the top of Government House to the tune of a fanfare after which he receives the Defense Minister's report.

After this, the massed bands of the Baku Garrison perform the Azərbaycan marşı, after which the President then delivers the holiday address to the armed services.

It was the first and only Azerbaijani military parade to follow the Soviet era format which included the inspection by the defense minister and the three-fold Oorah by the troops.

[9][10] The parade, which was also commanded by Major General Nuraddin Sadigov, featured a limited number of military equipment and at end of the event, paratroopers jumped from helicopters on the square.

The sixth military parade was held on June 26, 2018, in Azadlig Square on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Armed Forces.

[17][18][19] Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended as part of a state visit to Baku.

[23] In response to reports by Armenian social media that Armenian captives would take part in the parade, the State Security Service of Azerbaijan rejected the information as false saying that "humiliating prisoners of war is not a characteristic of the Azerbaijani people and our victorious army".

The event was attended by the President of Nakhchivan Vasif Talibov and Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov.

Being a joint celebration between Azerbaijan and Turkey, the massed bands of the Military Band Service of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan performed the İstiklal Marşı and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the military parade as the guest of honor as well as delivered a keynote address with President Aliyev.

During the parade, the Azerbaijani flag was carried on the shoulders of servicemen, with personnel of the Rapid Reaction Unit of the State Border Service demonstrating their combat skills.

On the Victory Day holiday, the parade is held at the monument to Major General Hazi Aslanov.