On Friday, the press service of the Central Military District reported that next year the instructors of the 201st Russian military base will train 1,000 junior specialists for the armed forces of Tajikistan.
"The training of military personnel will take place at once at two training complexes of Lyaur and Sambuli in 14 military specialties. These are the mechanic-driver and gunner-operator of the T-72 tank, the commander of the BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket system, the gunner of the BTR-80 armored personnel carrier, the gunner-operator of the BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle, also a scout, a grenade launcher and others," the press service of the Central Military District informed. They said that the training of specialties will take about three months.
In October, the chief of staff of the 201st base, Yevgeny Okhrimenko, said that up to a thousand specialists for the local army are trained annually in his compound. More than 6 thousand Tajik servicemen have already received such training.
And at the end of July in Dushanbe, at talks with the head of the republic's military department, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu noted the need for joint work to neutralize threats from neighboring Afghanistan. The hasty withdrawal of foreign troops from there, according to Shoigu, provoked a rapid degradation of the situation, an increase and a surge in terrorist activity. "This situation requires taking appropriate measures. Such work is already underway," the Russian minister said at the time.
He listed some steps in this direction. These are joint exercises on a bilateral basis and within the framework of the CSTO. Additional gratuitous supplies of Russian weapons and equipment to equip the Tajik army. Training of qualified local personnel in military universities of the Russian Federation and on the funds of the 201st Russian base. Strengthening the combat potential of the base itself and clarifying plans to jointly repel possible infiltration of militants.
Shoigu also said that our country is ready "to provide any required support to Tajik friends."
Yuri Gavrilov
