Police Day is observed in Azerbaijan on July 2, commemorating the establishment of the country's police force in 1918. This official professional holiday, also known as the Day of Azerbaijan Police Workers, marks the creation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs shortly after Azerbaijan declared independence on May 28, 1918. Following the annexation by the Soviet Union in 1920, the national police was replaced with Soviet militsiya, but it was reestablished in 1991 after Azerbaijan regained its independence. The National Police of the Republic of Azerbaijan, which includes various divisions and specialized units, is a member of INTERPOL, and police officers receive training at the National Police Academy. Police Day serves as a remembrance for law enforcement personnel who have died in the line of duty, including those who lost their lives during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.