Both countries are close allies and members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the military alliance formed by the Collective Security Treaty Organization, and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Tajikistan and Russia also work closely together in issues concerning Afghanistan and are partners in anti-terrorism, anti-narcotics, and intelligence operations.

In 1916, there were many clashes in Bukhara over civilians being drafted into the Russian Army to serve in World War I, as well as unfair taxation.

The Red Army launched several offensives against this new state throughout the late 1910s and early 1920s, eventually annexing it into the Soviet Union.

Soviet rule was highly centralised around Moscow and the Russian SFSR, and dissent against the USSR authorities led to the 1990 Dushanbe riots.

[10] On 25 March 2024, Tajik authorities arrested nine people from Vahdat District on suspicion of involvement with the attackers.