Deputies of the lower chamber of Tajikistan's parliament have ratified an agreement with Russia on the creation of a joint regional air defense system. The draft document was presented to deputies by the republic's Defense Minister Sherali Mirzo, the parliament's press service said on Wednesday.
According to its information, the session "considered and approved the agreement between the Republic of Tajikistan and the Russian Federation dated April 27, 2021, on the establishment of a joint regional system of air defense."
Presenting the draft agreement, Mirzo noted that the document "meets the interests of both sides to ensure the security of airspace". He also pointed to the growing threats in the region and the use of drones by terrorist and extremist organizations.
According to the document, the parties create an air defense system, which will become an integral part of the joint air defense system of the CIS member states.
The agreement specifies that the coordination of joint operations of troops of the united regional air defense system and forces from other regional air defense systems in the Central Asian region of collective security is to be carried out by the commander-in-chief of the air and space forces of the Russian Armed Forces. The commander of troops of the Central Military District of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is in charge of general management of Russian air defense forces within the boundaries of a separate area of collective security, and the commander of the Air Force and Air Defense of the Armed Forces of Tajikistan is in charge of joint operations of the forces of the united air defense system within the boundaries of a separate area of collective security.
The document notes that the existing order of financing and supplying the armed forces of the parties within the framework of the joint air defense system will not be changed. The agreement is signed for five years. In the future, it will be automatically prolonged for subsequent five-year periods.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Federation Council
Based on materials from TASS