MOSCOW. March 20 (Interfax) - The Russian president on Wednesday submitted two agreements to the State Duma for ratification governing the conditions and status of the stay of Russian military bases on the territories of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, says a report published in the State Duma database. The Russian-Kyrgyz agreement on the status and conditions governing the stay of the Russian military base on the territory of Kyrgyzstan and the protocol of military cooperation between the two countries were signed in Bishkek on September 20, 2012 during Vladimir Putin's visit to Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan ratified the document on December 19, 2012.
The 201st Russian military base stationed in Tajikistan has some 6,000 servicemen and is Russia's largest ground-based military base located outside of Russia. During Vladimir Putin's visit to Dushanbe on October 5, 2012, an agreement was signed according to which the 201st military base will stay in Tajikistan until 2042. However, the document has not yet been ratified by the Tajik parliament.
Comments on the agreement on the Russian military base in Tajikistan posted on the Kremlin website state that the document is signed for a period of 49 years with the possibility of automatic extension for five-year period. "Ratification of this agreement is in line with Russia's defense potential and security interests and its implementation will not lead to additional federal budget expenditures," the document says.
The document provides that the Russian military base defends the interests of Russia and Tajikistan during its stay on the territory of Tajikistan. "To achieve the said goals, Russia assists Tajikistan with obtaining compatible weapons and military and special equipment," the comments say.
This assistance will be provided in accordance with the Russian legislation on military-technical cooperation with foreign countries, according to which military-technical assistance will be provided to Tajikistan using allocations envisioned in the federal budget of the Russian Defense Ministry for these purposes.
The provisions of the agreement govern issues relating to the establishment of the status of the personnel of the Russian military base and the military men's family members, civilian personnel, the jurisdiction of the military base, the procedures governing the use of the Russian military base in interaction with the Tajik armed forces, etc. "In accordance with the agreement, the composition of the Russian military base is determined by Russia," the comments to the document say.
The document also outlines the procedures governing transportation via ground transport and military cargo aircraft as well as personnel and the procedures for crossing the state border of Tajikistan by them.
"The agreement determines issues relating to the compensation for damage done to the Russian military base, its personnel and family members of servicemen and civilian personnel, and also compensation for damage done to the Tajik side as a result of actions taken by the Russian military base, its personnel, and family members of the servicemen and the civilian personnel of the base," the material says.