DUSHANBE, November 25, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Rupture of economic ties with Russia and refusal to join the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan may get Tajikistan into serious trouble, Dr. Khojimahmad Umarov, expert on the Tajik economy, told Asia-Plus in an interview Friday afternoon.

“We must maintain and strengthen strategic relations with Russia,” noted the expert.  “There ought to avoid mistakes regarding our strategic economic partner in the future.”

Umarov is convinced that Russia has been and will remain the main ally of Tajikistan, let who will be in power in the republic.

According to him, there ought not to dramatize the recent developments in Tajik-Russian relations.  “There were many speculations and gross errors were made,” he said.

“In any circumstances, it is necessary to consider to what an extent we need one or another country or one or another economic bloc,” Umarov said.

He suggests that it is necessary to look practically at the issue of joining the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.  “There is no doubt that our interests will be realized after joining this union,” the expert added.