The Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation, commonly known as Rossotrudnichestvo, plans to open its office in the Tajik northern city of Khujand.

In Dushanbe, Rossotrudnichestvo’s office has been established long ago.

Citing the Agency head Lyubov Glebova, RIA Novosti reports Rossotrudnichestvo also intends to open its offices this year in Gyumri (Armenia) and Ganja (Azerbaijan).

“Rossotrundichestvo opens its offices in other countries strictly in accordance with government-to-government agreements.  As a rule, our Russian Centers for Science and Culture are located in the capital cities, but as practice shows, there is interest in them in other cities as well,” Ms. Glebova was cited as saying.

The Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation is an autonomous Russian federal government agency under the jurisdiction of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  This is a Russian government agency primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid.  Rossotrudnichestvo operates in Central Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe (but mostly in Commonwealth of Independent States).

President Dmitry Medvedev created the agency from its predecessor agency in 2008 by executive order (presidential decree).  The agency was set up by president’s decree signed on September 6, 2008, with the aim of maintaining Russia's influence in the Commonwealth of Independent States, and to foster friendly ties for the advancement of Russia's political and economic interests in foreign states.