Tajik-Russian military exercises start

The command and staff exercises of the Tajik and Russian military started on Tuesday in Tajikistan.

As the RIA Novosti correspondent was told by the head of the press service of the Tajik Defence Ministry, Lieutenant Colonel Zarobiddin Sirodzhev, the exercises will last until August 2, and more than 500 servicemen of the republican Defence Ministry and the 201st Russian motorised rifle division will take part in them.

The aim of the exercises underway in the area of the Tajik-Afghan border on the Sumbala proving-ground (Shaartuz district, some 150 kilometres southwest of Dushanbe) is to conduct joint military operations on supporting the frontier outposts.