DUSHANBE, February 6, 2015, Asia-Plus – Specialists from the Russian military based deployed in Tajikistan are reportedly training tank crew members for the Tajik national army.

An official website of the Central Military District of the Ministry of Defense of Russia reports that academic exercises for junior specialists (drivers and gunlayers) concluded on February 5 and practical exercises began at the Lohour, Sombuli and Momirak training grounds on February 6.

The Russian military base deployed in Tajikistan is Russia''s largest non-naval military facility outside the country.  It was officially opened in Tajikistan in 2004 under a previous agreement, which was signed in 1993, and hosts Russia’s largest military contingent deployed abroad.

A total of some 7,000 Russian troops are stationed at three military facilities collectively known as the 201st military base - in Dushanbe, Qurghon Teppa, some 100 kilometers from Dushanbe, and Kulob, about 200 kilometers southwest of Dushanbe.