In Washington D.C., an ANAMA employee and his dog were presented with the “Mine Detection Dog Team of the Year” award.
On 28 October of this year, an annual awards gala titled “Clearing the Path Awards”, organized by the Marshall Legacy Institute (MLI)—one of the leading U.S. non-governmental organizations in the field of humanitarian demining—was held in Washington, D.C.
As part of the event, Vusal Allahverdiyev, an employee of the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA), and his mine detection dog Ben-Mace were honored with the “Mine Detection Dog Team of the Year 2025” award.
During the gala, photographs showcasing the mine clearance operations carried out by MLI-donated mine detection dogs and their trainers in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories were displayed.
Among the four award categories presented this year, the Azerbaijani representative was one of the honorees, and the award was presented by Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to the United States, Khazar Ibrahim.
The gala was attended by officials from the U.S. Administration and Congress, members of the diplomatic corps, as well as representatives of international demining organizations and donor institutions.
In his remarks, Ambassador Khazar Ibrahim emphasized that the landmine problem is one of the most serious humanitarian consequences faced by Azerbaijan. He noted that over 13 percent of the country’s territory is contaminated with landmines, that more than 3,400 people have fallen victim to landmine explosions over the past decades, and that since 2020, more than 400 individuals have been killed or injured in mine incidents. The Ambassador stressed that demining activities are crucial for the reconstruction and restoration of the liberated territories and for the safe return of internally displaced persons. He also highlighted the importance of the 20-year successful partnership between MLI and ANAMA, expressed gratitude to donors and partners, and emphasized the need for continued international support for Azerbaijan’s demining efforts.
Speaking at the event, Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Special Envoy of the U.S. President, highly praised the dedication and heroism of the ANAMA representative and underscored the significance of efforts to combat landmine contamination.
In his acceptance speech, Vusal Allahverdiyev stated that he accepted the award on behalf of all deminers and those working to save human lives, adding that this recognition inspires them to clear even more land.
It should be noted that cooperation between the Marshall Legacy Institute and Azerbaijan has been ongoing since 2005. During this period, the Institute has provided around 100 mine detection dogs to Azerbaijan.
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