DUSHANBE, 06.10.2021 (NIAT Khovar) – More than 2,700 servicemen of the Russian Central Military District (CMD) and more than 500 pieces of equipment will take part in October in three joint exercises of the member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in Tajikistan, reported CMD commander Alexander Lapin yesterday.

Earlier, CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas announced a series of large-scale military trainings near the Tajik-Afghan border.

“In October, in Tajikistan, near the border with Afghanistan, we will conduct three joint trainings “Interaction,» “Search,” and “Echelon,» with the military contingents of CSTO member states during which we will employ more than 2,700 troops and over 500 pieces of equipment. The core of the Russian contingent will be the units of the 201st military base,” Lapin said.

The CMD press service clarified that practical actions will be carried out at two Tajik training grounds Harb-Maydon and Momirak with the participation of military contingents of six CSTO member states.

The CSTO includes Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. Tajikistan chairs the CSTO in 2020-2021.