Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon has personally asked Russian President Vladimir Putin not to continue the Soviet Union’s policy of disrespecting the countries of Central Asia.

Rahmon, according to the Kazakh informburo website, expressed his displeasure with Russia’s policy towards central Asian counties during the Russia-Central Asia summit in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.

Rahmon said Russia does not treat Tajikistan equally.

"We witnessed the collapse of the Soviet Union with you. As now, we witnessed that there was no attention to small republics, small peoples. Traditions and customs were not taken into account. We did not support development. Yesterday you spoke about two million (migrants from Tajikistan in the Russian Federation.   I wanted to tell you that more than two million of our citizens go to the Russian Federation not only to work. They study, get medical treatment," Rahmon is quoted as saying.

Rahmon is quoted as saying that the countries of Central Asia have always respected Russia, their main strategic partner, and that they expect similar respect in return.

“What, are we strangers? You don't need to invest a lot of money in us. Vladimir Vladimirovich, I request that you not pursue a policy towards the countries of Central Asia as a continuation of the Soviet Union," said Rahmon.

He added that every country has its own problems, questions, traditions and customs. "It is necessary to find the golden mean and work with each republic individually," Rahmon said.

The first Russia-Central Asia summit was attended by the presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. As noted on the website of the Kremlin, the heads of states discussed cooperation in various fields.

Photo: RIA Novosti / Aleksey Druzhinin