Russian President Vladimir Putin continues his program in Dushanbe on Thursday, following his arrival in the Tajik capital the previous evening. The state visit, the highest level of diplomatic protocol, commenced with a wreath-laying ceremony at the monument to Ismoili Somoni, the founder of the first Tajik state. This was followed by an informal meeting between Putin and Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon.
The agenda for Thursday features the formal ceremonies of a state visit. Following the official welcome ceremony and a photo session, the two leaders will hold one-on-one talks before being joined by their delegations for expanded negotiations. President Putin is accompanied by a substantial delegation, described by his foreign affairs aide Yuri Ushakov as including “almost half of the government.” The group comprises 20 ministers and heads of various agencies, including Deputy Prime Ministers Alexey Overchuk and Marat Khusnullin.
The sides are expected to exchange approximately fifteen signed documents, after which the presidents will make statements to the press. A state reception for both delegations will conclude the bilateral program, according to the Kremlin.
Bilateral Agenda
This meeting marks the fourth between the two leaders this year, following their previous contact on September 1 at the SCO summit in Tianjin, China. They have also held four phone conversations.
The negotiations will focus on key issues of bilateral cooperation across political, trade, economic, and cultural spheres, as well as pressing regional and international problems. Economic ties are of paramount importance, with Russia remaining Tajikistan's leading trade partner. In the previous year, Russia accounted for 22.6% of Tajikistan's foreign trade, with mutual trade volume growing by 7.1% in 2024 to reach $1.5 billion, and increasing a further 17.3% in the first seven months of this year.
Russia is also a key investor in the Tajik economy, with accumulated investments of approximately $500 million and over 300 Russian companies operating in the republic. Regional cooperation is equally robust, with more than 70 Russian federal subjects maintaining direct trade and economic links with Tajikistan, supported by over 80 interregional agreements.
Cultural and educational ties are being strengthened. The successful Days of Tajik Culture in Moscow and Kazan in early June were followed by ongoing educational initiatives. Several branches of leading Russian universities operate in Tajikistan, and over 35,000 Tajik students are enrolled in Russian institutions. Russia has allocated 1,000 state-funded scholarship places for the 2025-2026 academic year and continues its “Russian Teacher Abroad” program, with 109 educators currently working in Tajik schools. A project to supply adapted Russian-language textbooks is also underway, with an annual allocation of up to 200 million rubles for five years.
Cooperation on security and defense remains a cornerstone of the relationship. The Russian 201st Military Base works closely with Tajik armed forces to bolster the republic's security and that of the CSTO's Central Asian region, focusing on countering terrorism, drug trafficking, and the infiltration of radical elements. A program to modernize Tajikistan's armed forces continues, complemented by regular joint exercises and military training provided both at the base and in Russian educational institutions.
On the international stage, Moscow and Dushanbe maintain close coordination within multilateral frameworks, primarily the CIS, CSTO, and SCO, with a constant dialogue on the Afghan situation.
Russia-Central Asia Summit
In the latter half of the day, President Putin will participate in the second Russia–Central Asia summit, engaging with leaders from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
The summit's agenda focuses on enhancing cooperation between Russia and the Central Asian states, particularly in the context of ensuring regional security in light of the situations in Afghanistan and the Middle East. The leaders are expected to adopt a joint communiqué and a Plan of Joint Actions for 2025-2027.
Central Asia is a region of paramount importance and close ties for Russia, bound by alliances, strategic partnerships, and historical traditions of friendship. The Russia–Central Asia format, initiated in 2019 at the foreign minister level, held its first summit in Astana in October 2022. Bilateral trade has seen steady growth, exceeding $45 billion in 2024. The format has also expanded to include meetings of security council secretaries and defense ministers.
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Photo: Official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS