Ruble cash register: Russia and Tajikistan have moved away from the dollar and euro in settlements

Moscow and Dushanbe are working to increase trade turnover 2.5 times by 2030: now it reaches the equivalent of $1.5 billion. This was stated by Vladimir Putin on March 17 following talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon. Russia and Tajikistan have practically abandoned the use of foreign currencies in mutual settlements, the share of the ruble in bilateral transactions has already exceeded 97%. The parties signed a program of strategic partnership in the military and military-technical fields for 2026-2030. How Russia promotes peace in Central Asia and what role labor migration from Tajikistan to the Russian Federation plays for the economies of both countries — in the Izvestia article.

Cooperation between the Russian Federation and Tajikistan in the field of labor migration

Vladimir Putin began the new working week with an international meeting: on March 17, he held talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon. Two days earlier, on March 15, Putin had already met with his Tajik counterpart, but in an informal setting, and with the participation of President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko. On that day, the politicians called up with Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev, and they all agreed to fly to Moscow on May 9 to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Victory.

Before the official talks with Vladimir Putin, the President of Tajikistan laid a wreath at the Grave of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin Wall, honoring the memory of those who died in the Great Patriotic War with a minute of silence. Vladimir Putin and Emomali Rahmon first had a narrow—format conversation in the Green Living Room of the Grand Kremlin Palace, and only after that - in an expanded format, and this meeting was completely closed to the press.

Vladimir Putin congratulated his colleague on his convincing victory in the parliamentary elections: the ruling People's Democratic Party won a convincing victory in the March 2 vote in Tajikistan. She received almost 52% of the votes and the majority of mandates.

— This once again confirms that the people of Tajikistan support you. We very much hope that your course towards good—neighborly friendly relations, strategic partnership relations between Tajikistan and Russia, also find support among the citizens of the republic," Vladimir Putin said.

Russia and Tajikistan are working to improve the mutual trade and investment regime, Vladimir Putin said. Moscow and Dushanbe have almost completely abandoned foreign currencies in their bilateral settlements. The share of the ruble in the total volume of settlements between our countries is about 97.5%, the Russian Embassy in Tajikistan told Izvestia.

— As you can see, these are very high indicators, which strive for almost 100%, — the embassy noted.

A number of Tajik banks have already joined the Russian Central Bank's financial messaging system. Russia is one of Tajikistan's largest foreign trade partners. Moscow and Dushanbe are working to increase trade turnover 2.5 times by 2030. It is already reaching $1.5 billion, an increase of 7% in 2024.

— Our country is one of the leading investors in the Tajik economy. More than 300 enterprises with Russian participation operate in the republic. The volume of investments is $1.6 billion," said Vladimir Putin.

Money transfers to the homeland of citizens of the republic who work in Russia are also a serious help for the economy of Tajikistan. According to the World Bank (WB), they accounted for 45% of the country's GDP in 2024. Russia strives to provide Tajik citizens living in the Russian Federation with decent working conditions and social protection, the Russian president said. Currently, about a million citizens of this republic live and work in the Russian Federation. They are employed in a wide variety of industries — in construction, housing and communal services, transport and logistics, and make a great contribution to the development of the Russian economy, Vladimir Putin said.

"Today we have discussed cooperation in the field of labor migration in detail, and interdepartmental work in this area will be intensified," Emomali Rahmon promised.

According to the Ministry of Labor, Migration and Employment of Tajikistan, the majority of citizens of this country who go to work abroad go to Russia. At the same time, the flow of labor migrants to the Russian Federation decreased by 15% compared to the same period in 2023.

In Russia, in 2024, changes were made to migration legislation, in particular, the migration regime for expelling foreigners staying in the Russian Federation without legal grounds was introduced. Also, the period of stay of foreigners in the Russian Federation who arrived in the country without a visa has been reduced to 90 days per year. Previously, they could stay in Russia for 90 days for six months. According to the government of Tajikistan, in the first six months of 2024, more than 17 thousand citizens of this country were expelled from the Russian Federation for violating laws.

The fight against crime among migrants remains an important topic. It can only be carried out through joint efforts, so Russia and Tajikistan are constantly increasing the exchange of information, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev told Rossiya TV channel on the sidelines of a meeting between the leaders of the two countries.

—We have now launched multiservice equipment in order to share this information online, so that a citizen who has committed some serious crimes in his homeland cannot get here and continue his criminal activities," the Russian minister said.

He explained: in his country, the criminal is under supervision, and when he arrives in Russia, he often "simply disappears among his fellow countrymen, and it is difficult for us to figure out his illegal activities."

Socio-cultural partnership has also become an important topic. Vladimir Putin thanked Emomali Rahmon for supporting the Russian language in the country. The Presidents took part in the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of two cultural sites in Dushanbe: the educational center for gifted Children and the new building of the Vladimir Mayakovsky State Russian Drama Theater via a teleconference directly from the Andreevsky Hall of the Kremlin. The construction of both is scheduled to be completed in December 2026.

Assistance to Tajikistan on regional security issues

Security issues occupy a special place in relations between the two countries, Emomali Rahmon acknowledged at the meeting. Russia and Tajikistan have reaffirmed their common positions on regional and global issues. Vladimir Putin promised that Russia would continue to contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the region. This includes expanding anti-terrorism and anti-drug cooperation with Tajikistan.

— Of course, we could not but discuss the security issues in Central Asia, in particular, taking into account the challenges and threats emanating from Afghanistan. Russia will continue to contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the region, including by using the capabilities of the 201st Russian military base stationed in the republic," Vladimir Putin said.

Tension is currently growing on the Tajik-Afghan border. The Taliban government is trying to pursue a peaceful policy towards all neighboring states, but it is not able to fully control the armed units of ethnic Tajiks living in the northeastern provinces of the country, said Stanislav Tkachenko, professor at St. Petersburg State University, Doctor of Economics, expert at the Valdai Club.

— Although there is currently no immediate threat to the territorial integrity of Tajikistan, the flow of threats from Afghan armed groups located along the state border with Tajikistan has significantly increased with the onset of spring. Emomali Rahmon cannot ignore this, he undoubtedly raised this issue during negotiations with Vladimir Putin, since during the entire post—Soviet period, Russian military personnel stationed in this country played a major role in protecting Tajikistan's external borders, Stanislav Tkachenko told Izvestia.

As a result of the Russian-Tajik high-level talks, the program of bilateral strategic partnership in the military and military-technical fields for 2026-2030 was also approved. The relevant documents were exchanged between the Defense Ministers of Russia and Tajikistan, Andrei Belousov and Emomali Sobirzoda. In addition, an agreement was signed on cooperation in the rehabilitation of Tajik territories affected by uranium mining and mining industries. Documents have been adopted on cooperation in the field of industry and on the establishment of an industrial park in Tajikistan.