Russia and Tajikistan, a country in Central Asia, have deep historical ties, and Tajikistan was also formerly part of the Soviet Union.
The fact that Russia claims that the terrorists detained after the terrorist attack on Friday night in Moscow come from Tajikistan can create a rift between the two allies.
Read more about the Moscow terror here!
Tajikistan itself has already tried to distance itself from the attack, according to The Moscow Times, reproduced by Business Insider, and calls the information “false”.
Watch video: Comparing Putin to Disney villains
“Terrorists have no nationality”
The extreme Islamist group IS’s Afghan wing (ISKP) claims to be behind the attack in the Crocus concert hall in Krasnogorsk, Moscow, where 139 people are now said to have been killed and over 150 people injured. The motive must be that Russia is waging war against Islam.
Western intelligence has established that the IS wing is behind it. Russian President Vladimir Putin himself has stated that it is about radical Islamists, but also claims that Ukraine is involved. This has been rejected by Ukraine.
The article continues below the adThe article continues below the ad
According to the Russian authorities, a total of eleven people have been arrested for the terrorist attack. Seven of these will be remanded in custody. Russian authorities have stated that all eleven are foreigners, and in any case the first four detained are said to be from Tajikistan.
Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon is said to have told Putin on Sunday that “terrorists have no nationality, no homeland and no religion,” according to a statement from the president’s office.
The article continues below the adThe article continues below the ad
Demanded to be taken seriously by Russia
Russia’s ties to the world have weakened significantly after the country’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. But Russia is trying to keep ties with countries like China and North Korea strong, in light of its isolation from the West.
This also applies to some extent to countries such as Tajikistan, which, among other things, is part of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), which Putin has long hoped would constitute the member states’ version of NATO.
The article continues below the ad
Putin and his allies. From left: President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of Russia Vladimir Putin, President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Photo: Kristina Kormilitsyna / Sputink / Kremlin / AP / NTB
But Tajikistan, even with its close cultural and economic ties to Russia, has previously shown its displeasure with Putin and Russia.
In October 2022, Rahmon is said to have become tired of not being taken seriously by Putin, and according to the Daily Mail, to have reacted strongly to the fact that Tajikistan had to “beg” Russia to participate in a forum in the country.
– We are never treated as strategic partners! This is not meant as an insult, but we want to be respected! he is supposed to have said.
Russia’s handling of the terrorist attack and the terrorists is hardly legendary for the relationship between the two allies.
