Russian President Vladimir Putin has submitted a draft Federal law "on ratification of the Agreement between the Russian Federation and Turkmenistan on security cooperation" to the State Duma for ratification, TASS reports.

The agreement was signed in Moscow on April 10, 2003. It States that Turkmenistan and Russia cooperate in the fight against international terrorism, organized crime, economic crimes, and crimes against transport security. In addition, the document provides for a joint fight between the parties against drug trafficking, legalization (laundering) of income obtained illegally, illegal migration and smuggling. The subject of the agreement is also cooperation "in the field of environmental safety and protection".

It is emphasized that the document is not directed against third States and does not affect the rights and obligations of the parties arising from other international treaties.

The parties will hold regular consultations on issues of mutual interest, the explanatory note says.

The text of the document was published on August 17 on the website of the legislative support System.

Recall that diplomatic relations between Turkmenistan and Russia have been established since April 8, 1992. The basic document defining the cooperation of the parties at present is the Treaty of friendship and cooperation of April 23, 2002 (replaced the similar Agreement of July 31, 1992).

Russian-Turkmen relations are based on the principle of strategic partnership, which is stipulated in the bilateral Agreement on expanding strategic cooperation in the field of energy and engineering dated December 22, 2009 and the interstate Agreement on strategic partnership signed on October 2, 2017 in Ashgabat (entered into force in August 2018).

In total, Russia and Turkmenistan have signed more than 170 agreements covering all areas of cooperation.