SOCAR security guards (Azerbaijan)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: |
yes
|
| PGM ID Number: |
613
|
| Country: |
Azerbaijan |
| Date formed: |
April 18, 2012 |
| Accuracy of date formed: |
year
|
| Details of Formation: |
Paramilitary formations under the guise of security officers formed since the beginning of 2000s. The SOCAR security guards were first mentioned in 2011 (Wikipedia). In 2012, they were involved in an operation against journalists alongside police and used batons (Amnesty International). It is unclear whether they were armed before that event. |
| Date dissolved: |
Unknown |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: |
day
|
| Details of Termination: |
|
| Termination Type(s): |
unclear
|
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): |
none
|
| Successor group(s): |
none
|
| Private Military Company? |
no |
| Former Group? |
yes |
| Former Armed Group? |
unclear |
| Former Rebel Group? |
no |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: |
none |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? |
no |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: |
none |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: |
informal (type 1) |
| Created by the Government?: |
no information |
Main Creating Government Institution: |
none
|
| Government Link(s): |
state (institution)
|
| If link to party, name of party: |
|
| Training and Equipment: |
yes |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: |
yes |
| Shared Personnel: |
no information |
| Type(s) of Material Support: |
domestic government; corporation
|
| State Sponsor(s): |
none
|
| Other Connection(s): |
|
Group Characteristics
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): |
none
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: |
not applicable
|
| Ethnic Membership: |
none
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: |
not applicable
|
| Ethnic Purpose: |
none
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: |
not applicable
|
Other Information
| Other Information: |
At the beginning, athletes, including masters of martial arts, were recruited for the PGM. Later, the focus lay on recruiting young men in great physical shape. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: |
SOCAR security guards are used as punitive squads against protesters and to disperse opposition. In 2012, they were used to suppress negative media coverage ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest (Amnesty International). |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use |
unknown
|
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: |
In 2012, the SOCAR security guards alongside police demolished houses in Sulutepe and attacked its residents. When journalists arrived they beat them heavily while police looked on (Amnesty International). The SOCAR are used as punitive squad against protesters. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: |
beating
|
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? |
no information |
| PGM Members Paid? |
unclear |
| Reasons for Membership: |
Members were recruited to participate in the group. |
| PGM Members Killed? |
no information |
PGM Size
| Size: |
In 2013, a news source estimates that the group has around 5,000-6,000 members. |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: |
The SOCAR security guards received Israeli-made UZI machine pistols from the Azerbaijani authorities in 2013. They also received training on the use of military weapons. |
Organisation
| Organisation: |
The SOCAR security forces belong to the state-owned SOCAR company (State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic). |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Amnesty International. 2012. “Azerbaijan: Journalists brutally attacked amid crackdown
ahead of Eurovision.“ https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2012/04/azerbaijan-journalists-brutally-attacked-eurovision-crackdown-continues/. 18 April.
Wikipedia. “Idrak Abbasov”. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Idrak_Abbasov&oldid=809794865
Evidence
