“Public control over the Azerbaijani army leads to increased public interest in the military,” Milli Majlis Security and Defense Committee Deputy Chairman Aydin Mirzazade told Trend News today.

A public control group over the army was established after revealing widespread hazing in October 2008. The group included NGO representatives, the Defense Ministry and MPs. The group visits military units and shows an interest in soldiers’ moral and physical health.

Mirzazade said discussions on public control have been held with the Defense Ministry. “We decided to organize again visits to military units connected with public control over the army,” the MP said. “The group does not rule out round-table talks and other events.”

He added that media outlets should participate to make public control over the army, which is more productive. “Media and civil society participation, together with MPs, leads to rather serious results,” Mirzazade said.