The Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Army General Sergei Shoigu, on the "Territory of Meanings" in Senezh

“It is extremely important for us that our colleagues, our allies, our CSTO partners are ready. Naturally, we are doing everything to this end. As you probably know, many or even most of officers from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kirghizia and Kazakhstan study in our country, receive higher education here. We also modernize and help with rearmament of the armies of Tajikistan and Kirghizia; our 201st base is located in Tajikistan, there is also another one in Kirghizia. It is extremely important that the armed forces of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kirghizia are ready to repel possible threats even though Taliban (organization banned in the Russian Federation) and its leaders say that they will not undertake any destructive attempts to cross borders and attack neighbouring territories.”​