DUSHANBE, June 17, 2016, Asia-Plus – Tajik interior minister and commander of the Russian military base deployed in Tajikistan have discussed methods of joint fight against terrorism, according to the Tajik Interior Ministry’s website.

Tajik Interior Minister Ramazon Rahimzoda held talks with Colonel Denis Lyamin, Commander of the Russian 201st Military Base, on June 17.

The two reportedly discussed issues related to coordination of joint efforts and collaboration to fight terrorism.

Rahimzoda, in particular, noted that Tajik interior ministry’s functions include not only prevention of crime, maintenance of public order and protection of rights and freedoms of citizens but also coordination of joint efforts undertaken to combat transnational crime and address modern challenges and threats.

Lyamin, for his part, noted that the Russian military base had established closed cooperation with power-wielding and law enforcement structures of Tajikistan, including the interior and defense ministries.

The two sides reportedly expressed confidence in further expansion of bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation.  

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 now stationed at two military facilities collectively known as the 201st military base - in Dushanbe and Qurghon Teppa, some 100 kilometers from Dushanbe.