SUMMARY

The OPON (Otryad Politsii Osobogo Naznacheniya, Special Purpose Police Unit; or in Azerbaijani Xüsusi Təyinatlı Polis Dəstəsi, XTPD) Forces was a special police militia attached to the Azeri Ministry of Internal Affairs, that mutinied and attempted to overthrow the government in a coup in March 1995. The force, which numbered about 200 in 1994, was also involved in various forms of criminal activity.

The force was led by Colonel Rovshan Javadov, who was killed in the failed coup attempt.

It has been suggested that the OPON Forces had connections to rogue elements of Turkey’s Interior Ministry and Intelligence Service; however, this has never been officially acknowledged by Turkey. By 1995, the OPON Forces had developed smuggling and cooperation ties to Turkish far-right nationalist organizations.

The Government of Azerbaijan believed that Javadov had connections to Surat Husseinov, who had revolted in 1993, the deposed President Abulfaz Elchibey, and to the former ruling party People’s Front of Azerbaijan (APF). However, these links have never been confirmed.

On 13 March 1995, the President formulated a decree that disbanded the OPON due to their coup attempt. A few days later, government forces stormed the force' headquarters. Violent clashes broke out. President Aliyevs troops were victorious and the OPON was defeated and dissolved.