Azerbaijan's Deputy Defense Minister awards Lieutenant-Colonel Sergey Uvarov

Azerbaijani Deputy Defense Minister Kerim Veliyev has awarded a retired Lieutenant-Colonel Sergey Uvarov at a ceremony at the Azerbaijani Embassy in Moscow today. Uvarov fought in the 1990s to protect the integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijani, Vestnik Kavkaza reports.

Sergei Uvarov received 'For Military Merit' state award for courage, bravery and conscientious attitude to the strengthening of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan. "This is a very high reward," Kerim Veliyev said, adding that the award was introduced by the national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev.

Sergey Uvarov said in an interview with a correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza that the Azerbaijani army has become much stronger since the time when he served. "Of course, a new generation emerged. My friends who I knew as  lieutenants and captains now has become colonels and generals," he told.

The Lieutenant-Colonel said he was glad to see the understanding that has been established between Moscow and Baku. "I am very happy that now Azerbaijan and Russia have very warm, good relations. Of course, it all depends on the leadership and I am proud of it. I see how wise our Azerbaijani leadership is," Uvarov noted.

He also explained why he has continued his service in Azerbaijan after the collapse of the USSR. "We served all together in the Soviet Union. When there was a collapse of the Union, we decided to stay, because many of our friends and colleagues lived here," he said.