Tag Archives: military bases

Tajikistan holds war games with Russia

Russia wants airbase in Tajikistan

DEC. 27 2016 (The Conway Bulletin) — The Kremlin has started talks with the Tajik leadership on taking over the Anyi airbase in Tajikistan, media quoted the Russian ambassador in Dushanbe as saying. Russia already operates a military base in Tajikistan as well as an airbase in Kyrgyzstan. Taking over the airbase would still represent a rise in Russia’s military presence in the region.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 311, published on Jan. 6 2017)

Kyrgyz President says Russia should leave Kant

DEC. 1 2016 (The Conway Bulletin) — At a press conference, Kyrgyz president Almazbek Atambayev said that Russia would have to quit its air base at Kant near Bishkek. He didn’t elaborate or give any details but he did say that he wanted all foreign military to quit Kyrgyzstan. Russia has signed a deal with Kyrgyzstan to operate from Kant until 2032. It started operations at Kant in 2003. The US quit its airbase outside Bishkek in 2014.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 307, published on Dec. 2 2016)

Russia strengthens base in Tajikistan

JUNE 14 2016 (The Conway Bulletin) – The Russian army ramped up its hardware at its base in Tajikistan by delivering 100 armed personnel carriers and tanks. Russian officials did not say why they were upgrading their military kit in Tajikistan. Russia has previously warned of the threat by the Taliban in Afghanistan. The military base in Tajikistan is Russia’s largest foreign military facility.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 285, published on June 17 2016)

Russia complains about Georgian military exercises

MAY 12 2016 (The Conway Bulletin) – Russia complained about a military exercise in Georgia involving US and British forces, saying that it was a destabilising influence.

The exercise is the biggest joint NATO-Georgia exercise ever run in Georgia and, for the first time involves heavy US tanks. Georgia has made clear its desire to join NATO and views these exercises as important milestones. Reuters reported that 650 US soldiers were involved in the exercise, 500 Georgian soldiers and 150 British soldiers.

Russia and Georgia fought a war in 2008 over the rebel region of South Ossetia. Relations have improved but both sides are wary.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 280, published on May 13 2016)

Russia strengthens base in Armenia

FEB. 23 2016 (The Conway Bulletin) – Russia has reinforced its base in Armenia with four of its latest MiG fighter-jets and a new helicopter, media reported quoting the Russian military. The reinforcements come at a time of increased tension and militarisation between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Russia’s military base in Armenia is one of its largest over- seas bases. It considers it essential for maintaining the balance of power in the region.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 269, published on Feb. 26 2016)

Soldier pleads guilty in Armenia

JAN. 22 2016 (The Conway Bulletin) – Valery Permyakov, a Russian conscript soldier, pleaded guilty to assaulting and killing a family of seven in the Armenian town of Gyumri last year. The murders triggered anti-Russia protests outside Russia’s military base, its biggest in the South Caucasus, and threatened to damage bilateral relations.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 265, published on Jan. 29 2016)

Germany leaves UZ base

DEC. 15 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – The German military closed its base at Termez, Uzbekistan, near the border with Afghanistan. Rent costs for the base had increased to €16m ($17.3m) per year, up from €2.9m ($3.15m) per year in 2002. Germany had used the base as part of a logistics route into Afghanistan.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 261, published on Dec. 20 2015)

Russia beefs up Armenian base

DEC. 8 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – Russia deployed seven attack helicopters to an air base outside Yerevan, Russian media reported, strengthening its operations in Armenia. Russia has a large garrison based at Gyumri, Armenia’s second city. Russia didn’t specify why it had strengthened its base.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 260, published on Dec. 11 2015)

Russia pulls out of Tajikistan base

NOV. 19 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – Media in Tajikistan reported that the Russian military had started to pull out of its base in Kulyab, near the border with Afghanistan, a potentially destabilising move in a fragile border region.

There was no explanation as to why the Russian military would pull out of Kulyab but relations have become increasingly strained with locals.

Russian soldiers have been accused of getting drunk and fighting with locals as well as not paying local workers their full salaries, an accusation the Russian base has refuted.

Still, whatever the underlying reason for the withdrawal, Kulyab is one of three bases that Russia uses in Tajikistan and quitting it will change the dynamics.

Russia has 7,000 soldiers stationed in Tajikistan, its largest deployment outside Russia.

It has warned that Taliban activity in northern Afghanistan could threaten Central Asia and encouraged the region’s governments to strengthen their militaries.

The Kremlin, though, has ruled out taking back responsibility for patrolling Central Asia’s borders.

ENDS

(News report from Issue No. 257, published on Nov. 20 2015)