The Russian Defense Ministry will not allocate funds for the 201st Russian military base (RMB) in Tajikistan, head of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, General Nikolai Makarov said, Avesta.Tj reported with reference to Russian media.
"The negotiations on this base are difficult. But we hope that common sense will prevail," Makarov was quoted as saying.
The head of General Staff said that the two countries agreed that the protocol on the extension of the agreement on the deployment on the territory of Tajikistan of the 201st RMB after 2014 will be signed in the first quarter of 2012. "Unfortunately, this did not happen. Tajikistan suddenly got stubborn, and we were forced to stop providing funds for the resettlement of the base until the situation is clarified," the general said, KyrTAG reported.
Earlier it was reported that Russia considered that the Tajik authorities put forward "completely unacceptable terms with respect to deployment of Russian military base on its territory."
It should be recalled that in September 2011 in Dushanbe, Tajik and Russian Presidents Emomali Rahmon and Dmitry Medvedev stated that the parties were considering extending the term of the Russian military base in Tajikistan for 49 years. The Russian leader said then that "negotiations were conducted on the subject, and an agreement was to be signed in the first quarter of 2012."
At that time, the two president didn't specify conditions under which the Russian military will be in Tajikistan. As noted by political scientists, Dushanbe has repeatedly hinted the Kremlin at the possibility of extending the stay of the base in Tajikistan on a fee basis. According to some sources, it could be $ 300 million in the form of rent.
The Russian military base was established in Tajikistan in 2004 on the basis of the 201st Division. It has over 6,000 troops stationed in Dushanbe, Kulyab and Kurgan-Tube.