MOSCOW, October 7. /TASS/. Russia will move the Mil Mi-24P and Mi-8 MTV helicopters to the 201st military base in Tajikistan, spokesman for the Central Military District, Colonel Yaroslav Roshchupkin reported on Wednesday.

"The newly formed air group will be deployed at the Hissar district of Tajikistan at the Aini airfield 30 km from the capital Dushanbe. The unit will comprise the Mi-24P attack helicopters and Mi-8 MTV combat transport helicopters," he said.

Roshchupkin said that the helicopters would be engaged in the transportation of cargoes, covering troops’ convoys and support of assault landing operations, putting minefield obstacles, evacuation of the sick and wounded, conduct aerial engineer terrain intelligence.

The 201st military base is Russia’s largest military facility outside the country. Its units are located in Dushanbe, Kurgan-Tube and Kulyab. The military contingent will be deployed in Tajikistan at least until 2042.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said recently, visiting the base together with the Tajikistani president that "the Russian Military Base in Tajikistan is one of the most important factors of stability in the republic — a republic with which we are linked through special brotherly, close strategic relations; a republic that serves as an outpost for the entire Commonwealth of Independent States in this area, in the very complex and significant field of relations with Afghanistan. There is no need to explain to you how important this is for Tajikistan, for all of Central Asia, and for Russia as well.".