DUSHANBE, June 8, 2015, Asia-Plus – Russian law enforcement authorities have promised to fight against recruitment of Tajik nationals into extremist organizations in the Russian Federation.

On Saturday June 6, Tajik Interior Minister Ramazon Rahimzoda met here with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Kolokoltsev.

According to the Tajik Interior Ministry press center, the two discussed issues related to preventing recruitment of Tajik nationals into extremist groups in the territory of the Russian Federation and training of personnel for Tajik law enforcement authorities in Russia.

The Russian minister reportedly noted that all necessary measures would be taken to prevent recruitment of Tajik nationals into illegal groups in Russia.

Both sides expressed readiness for further expansion of bilateral cooperation in preventing crime, exchanging information and training personnel.

We will recall that some experts noted last month that Tajikistan’s Ministry of Labor, Migration and Employment of Population claimed 200 Tajik labor migrants had been radicalized in Russia and gone to Syria.

Mr. Edward Lemon, a doctoral candidate at the University of Exeter who tracks Tajik militants in Syria and Iraq, told Radio Liberty last month that the majority of Tajik Islamic State (IS) fighters spent time in Russia. “With over 1 million Tajiks working in Russia, this is not surprising. According to media reports, many of these individuals did not display signs of piety before going to Russia. So it seems like many are being recruited in Russia,” Lemon noted.