DUSHANBE, September 17 (RIA Novosti) - The Tajik Defense Ministry on Thursday denied asking Russia to pay $300 million in rent for a military base stationed on its territory.

On Monday, some Russian media outlets reported that during Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov's visit to Dushanbe last Friday, Tajikistan had demanded that Russia pay $300 million in rent for its 201st Base in the Central Asian Republic.

"Tajikistan has not raised the issue of payment for hosting the 201st Base on its territory," Tajik First Deputy Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Ramil Nadyrov said.

He also denied Tajikistan had ever demanded that the base be closed.

The 201st Base was established as a key element of regional security in October 2004, when presidents Emomali Rakhmon and Vladimir Putin signed a deal.

The base has about 7,000 personnel, comprising three motorized infantry regiments, a self-propelled artillery regiment, an anti-aircraft missile regiment, and a combat helicopter group.

It is Russia's largest base abroad.