Ministry of Internal Affairs (Uzbekistan)

The Internal Troops (Uzbek: Ichki Qo'shinlari) are one of the many elite militarized forces in the armed forces. It is a gendarmerie-like paramilitary force that is affiliated to the military but maintains a separate chain of command. It provides specific protection from foreign threats and quells public unrest. In conducting its duties, it relies on a force of around 20,000 men.[2] They also consist of mostly field units, which are the types found in prison security units, various units attached to a certain facility and special forces. The Internal Troops were formed in January 1992 on the basis of units of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Uzbek SSR. Following the 2005 Andijan unrest, the SNB took control of the troops.[3] In 2007, the Internal Troops were transferred to the structure of the Ministry of Defense.[4] In May 2018, it was transferred from National Security Service (SNB) control to the interior ministry.[5][6][7] They are commonly utilized against Islamic terrorists in the border regions near Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It maintains several Spetsnaz battalions:[8]

It is composed of 5 brigades and the following action groups:

• Scorpion Group
• Bars
• Ts
• Alpha Group

The flag of the Ministry of Internal Affairs consists of a dark gray banner, with the emblem of the interior ministry (drawn in a circle of 98 cm in diameter) in center of its front and back sides.

The emblem of the interior ministry has a bronze ring with rounded edges of dark circles. In the center of the line is a red line representing vital force. In the top of the dash, the words in the section indicate the divergence, and the inscriptions are separated by two eight-pointed stars representing determination, courage, and glory. The circle is decorated with national ornament and represents a shield representing the protection against internal and external threats. It is an octogram that is centered on the circle in the center of the right turn, which means achieving order, balance, and maturation. Two swords - the ancient symbol of power and protection, crossed the back of the shield and crossed diagonally. Behind the shields and swords, a bird, made of gold, flared up, symbolized luck and happiness.

The Exemplary Band of the MVD was founded on 10 January 1993, under the direction of Colonel Grigor Terzyan,[9] an ethnic Armenian from the now Turkish city of Erzurum.[10] He held that position until his death in late May 2009.[11] Notable members of the band included Lieutenant Colonel Yunus Gulzarov.[12] One of Colonel Terzyan's famous pieces, was the March of General Sirazhdinov, which is commonly used in the armed forces.[13] In 2018, the band under the leadership of Captain M. Makhmudov performed on its silver jubilee at the Palace of Culture of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.[14] In 2020, employees of the band, each being home in quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic, presented a musical composition through the Zoom videoconferencing software program.