Cossacks community awards Azerbaijani president with highest honor

Azerbaijan, Baku, April 4 / Trend S.Aghayeva / By the decision of the chieftain board of the "Community of Cossacks in Azerbaijan" military Cossack society, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev was awarded the highest award -- the Order of Chieftain Holovaty -- for his great personal contribution to developing and strengthening Cossacks and fighting terrorism, Chieftain Viktor Merezhkin said. He said the highest award has already been transferred to the head of state. He also noted that the Azerbaijani Cossacks have always upheld the independence of Azerbaijan and in the future will stick to this position. "The Cossacks are always ready to assist Azerbaijan in a difficult moment and to participate in the restoration of territorial integrity of the republic," said the chieftain. Previously Presidents of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko and Viktor Yanukovych had been awarded order of Chieftain Holovaty. Anton Holovaty (1744-1797) is considered one of the founders of the former Black Sea (now Kuban) Cossack army. He was one of the principal figures in the migration of the Cossack Army to Kuban and its organization in a new territory. In 1797, Holovaty at the head of two regiments of Cossacks and the Caspian flotilla marched to defend the southern borders of Azerbaijan. The Community of Azerbaijani Cossacks was registered by the Ministry of Justice on Nov. 16, 1994. It combines about 1,500 people, whose ancestors were Cossacks roots, and those who accept the charter and tradition of the Cossacks. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az