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Tajikistan knows key Russian military base ensures Central Asian security, says envoy

Semyon Grigoryev added that Russia was assisting in modernizing Tajikistan's armed forces under a special arrangement

DUSHANBE, November 21. /TASS/. Tajik officials understand that Russia’s 201st Military Base, stationed on the territory of the Central Asian country, guarantees security not only for Tajikistan, but also for the entire region, Russian Ambassador to Dushanbe Semyon Grigoryev told TASS in his first interview after presenting his credentials to Tajik President Emomali Rahmon earlier in the day.

"There is turbulence around Tajikistan, and Dushanbe understands that having the Russian 201st Military Base here is a guarantor of stability and security not only for the republic, but also for the entire region," the diplomat said.

According to him, Moscow and Dushanbe have shaped very good military cooperation and members of Russia’s federal agencies are in constant communication with their Tajik counterparts, holding joint activities and drills together.

Grigoryev added that Russia was assisting in modernizing Tajikistan's armed forces under a special arrangement. "The program is already being implemented, its pace and stages are determined through contact between the relevant military agencies," the envoy pointed out.

The 201st Military Base in Tajikistan is Russia's largest military facility outside its border, which includes motorized rifle, tank, artillery, reconnaissance, air defense, radio and chemical security, as well as communication units.

Moscow and Dushanbe are implementing a bilateral program to modernize Tajikistan's armed forces. This program is planned to be finished by 2042. Its purpose is to ensure stability in the Central Asian region. The countries regularly conduct joint drills and personnel training. In August, it was reported that Russian military instructors from the 201st Military Base trained 1,000 junior specialists in 14 fields for the Tajik Defense Ministry in 2022.

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