On April 19, local time, the five-day joint tactical military exercises between Russia and Tajikistan were held at three training grounds in the tower.
The total number of participants was 3,500, of whom 2,500 were from the Russian military base in Tajikistan, according to the Central Military Region Information Bureau.
The Russian side participated in about 400 weapons and equipment, including Su-25 attack aircraft, Mi-24 helicopter gunships, Mi-8 transport helicopters, T-72 tanks and so on. The soldiers of the two countries will practice together to complete a series of tactical tasks. The exercise will end on the 23rd.
Established in 2004, the 201st military base is part of the Central Russian Military Region and is Russia’s largest overseas military base, based in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, and in the southwestern city of Bokhtar.
According to the agreement signed between the two countries in October 2012, Russian troops will be stationed in the tower until 2042.
