Zaur Javanshir currently serves in the special forces of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. He had taken part in the 2016 Nagorno-Karabakh clashes. Participating in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, he commanded the Azerbaijani special forces during the Battle of Shusha. Javanshir was appointed the first commandant of Shusha, and marched with the Victory Flag, which is the flag that was hoisted in Shusha, in the 2020 Victory Parade in Baku.