Russia's Putin pledges to help Tajikistan after deadly gun battles

15/09/2015 - 9:53

DUSHANBE (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday said Russia would help Tajikistan ensure stability after gun battles killed more than 20 people this month, stoking fears of religious-related unrest in the ex-Soviet state.

Putin, on a visit to the Tajik capital Dushanbe, was speaking after gunmen loyal to the country's ex-deputy defence minister clashed with government forces in circumstances that have not been fully explained.

Putin said Moscow was worried about a possible spillover of violence from Afghanistan into Tajikistan and other central Asian states.

"You can always count on our help and support, though (Tajikistan's) armed forces are successfully dealing with the problems that arise," Putin told a meeting that included Tajikistan's President Imomali Rakhmon.

Putin said he was also concerned about Russian citizens who had left to fight with Islamic State militants returning home. Moscow would continue to provide military assistance to the Syrian government, he said.

(Reporting by Denis Dyomkin; Writing by Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Andrew Osborn)