Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon had talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow on May 8. 

Russia media report say that during the meeting, Emomali Rahmon underscored Tajikistan’s willingness to forge security ties with Russia, including amidst the risks emerging in the wake of the US troops’ pullout from Afghanistan.  

Russia’s independent TV channel Dozhd TV (TV Raid) reports that Emomali Rahmon was the only foreign leader, who joined Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the Victory Day celebrations on May 9.

Emomali Rahmon has been invited to attend an annual Victory Parade in Moscow as rotting Chairman of the Collective Security Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).  

“I would especially like to note our close cooperation in the security area,” Tajik leader said, according to TASS.

“Our relations are developing within the CIS, the SCO and the CSTO,” Emomali Rahmon noted. 

Tajik president emphasized that the security issue was currently predominant in Central Asia, taking into consideration the US announcement of its troops’ withdrawal from Afghanistan.

“Actually, they have already pulled out more than half of the troops, and immediately after the announcement the situation escalated dramatically inside Afghanistan," Emomali Rahmon noted.

He added that Tajikistan shares nearly 60% of the post-Soviet republics’ common border with Afghanistan.

“I know you are concerned about this situation…. For our part, we are doing everything we can to support you,” Putin told Rahmon, according to RT.

Tajikistan hosts about 7,000 troops from the Russian military base that are stationed in two facilities, namely Dushanbe and Bokhtar, the capital of the Tajik southern Khatlon province.

According to Russian media reports, Putin noted during the meeting that Russia will do its utmost to back Tajikistan during its chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).  

“Tajikistan is hosting a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization this year, heading this organization throughout a year.  We will do everything that depends on us, on Russia, to support you in this work,” the Russian leader promised.

Tajikistan has close economic ties with Russia as hundreds of thousands of Tajiks work in Russia to support families at home.

“Russia and Tajikistan will be able to boost trade to pre-pandemic levels, Russian leader said adding that Russia remains Tajikistan’s key trade and economic partner," the Russian president said.