SOSNOVSKOYE /Leningrad Region/, December 24. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and President of Tajikistan Emomali Rakhmon had a brief standing conversation before the beginning of bilateral negotiations.

The conversation took place during the protocol photoshoot at the Igora ski resort near St. Petersburg. The leaders had a warm greeting, hugged each other, exchanged a couple of phrases and proceeded to the hall, where the bilateral negotiations started.

The Russian leader arrived at the Igora resort before his Tajik counterpart. Putin talked to his spokesman Dmitry Peskov for several minutes before Rakhmon arrived.