Tajik President Emomali Rahmon met with Russian President Vladimir Putin after the attack on a concert in Moscow last month. Many of the suspects are citizens of Tajikistan.
Rahmone] noted that Russia-Tajikistan relations are “on the rise in terms of economic and trade partnerships, and in the humanitarian sphere,” but also had some pointed words on the topic of terrorism.
“As for the struggle against terrorism and extremism, you’ve known our position for over 30 years. Our position is that we’re against double standards in the struggle against terrorism and extremism. Terrorism has neither nationality nor religion,” said Rahmon.
He added that Russian and Tajikistani security forces had been doing good work all year, but “unfortunately, a tragedy occurred at Crocus City Hall.” He emphasized again that Tajikistan has fought terrorism and extremism for more than 30 years. He called it a “global problem.”
“Tajiks are an ancient people, with an ancient history, culture, and civilization. What happened is, of course, absolutely unacceptable to us. This is what causes serious damage to the image, history, culture, and traditions of our nation. We will continue to work closely with you on this issue,” Rahmon concluded.
According to a report, Rahmon emphasized the necessity of a unified global effort against terrorism, stating;
“Terrorism should be fought together everywhere.”
While acknowledging the historical cooperation between the intelligence services of Tajikistan and Russia, Rahmon lamented the tragedy at Crocus City Hall, stating that Tajikistan has been combating terrorism and extremism for over three decades and understands the gravity of the issue firsthand.
“This is a global problem,” Rahmon asserted, highlighting Tajikistan’s rich history, culture, and civilization.
He expressed deep distress over the impact of the attack on the nation’s image, history, culture, and traditions, reaffirming Tajikistan’s commitment to closely collaborate with Russia in addressing these challenges.
“I think that Tajiks are an ancient people with an ancient history, culture, and civilization. And what happened is absolutely unacceptable for us. This caused very serious damage to the image, history, culture, and traditions of our nation. We will continue to work closely with you on these issues,” President Rahmon shared.
Furthermore, Rahmon denounced the use of double standards in counterterrorism efforts, asserting, “Terrorism has no nationality or religion.” He reaffirmed Tajikistan’s stance against such discriminatory practices.
Despite acknowledging the existence of adversaries attempting to sow discord between Russia and Tajikistan, Rahmon underscored Russia’s significance as a strategic partner and ally. He extended an invitation to Putin to discuss the issue of labor migration, emphasizing its sensitivity and importance due to Tajikistan’s rapid population growth.
Putin reciprocated Rahmon’s sentiments, affirming the active cooperation between Russian and Tajik intelligence services to combat common threats, particularly terrorism. He expressed gratitude to Rahmon for his solidarity following the Crocus attack.
“This work is well organized, colleagues are in close contact with each other. You and I will support and continue it,” Putin voiced.
After President Vladimir Putin’s re-election, an act of terrorism unfolded at Crocus City Hall near Moscow on March 22. Five individuals, clad in camouflage and wielding automatic firearms, launched an assault during a concert. The attack, which occurred during a performance by the musical group “Piknik,” resulted in the tragic loss of at least 40 lives and left over 100 people injured. The violence prompted an urgent evacuation. The estimated cost of the damage inflicted on the Crocus City Hall site exceeds $100mn.
