Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Tajikistan today for a three-day state visit, during which he will meet with leaders of countries that were part of the Soviet Union, the Associated Press reported, BTA reports.
Ties with Tajikistan and other former Soviet republics in Central Asia are gaining increasing importance for Moscow amid strict Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine, the AP notes.
During his visit, Putin will talk with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, after which he will participate in a summit between Russia and the countries of Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan). They will be joined by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus on Friday for a meeting of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Although Tajikistan is a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which in 2023 issued an arrest warrant for Putin for alleged war crimes related to Russia's actions in Ukraine, the Russian president is not at risk of detention. The country relies heavily on Moscow's political, economic and military support, the AP notes.
In September 2024, Putin made an official visit to Mongolia, another ICC member state that has also ignored calls for his arrest.