Tajikistan - President Denies Requests for Foreign Bases - NYTimes.com Tajikistan, a former Soviet republic bordering Afghanistan, has rejected requests by foreign powers to allow them to set up military bases on its territory because it does not want to upset Russia, its president said Tuesday. President Imomali Rakhmon said he had been approached by several countries seeking permission to set up bases in Tajikistan, which also borders China. He did not name the countries. "Russia is the main strategic partner and our natural ally, and I hope that it will always be like this," he said.