August 26, 1994 - Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev began an official visit to Uzbekistan on 25 August, Russian and Western news agencies reported. One of the main topics discussed was the situation in Tajikistan; Kozyrev told a press conference that Russia would use "the language of war" in dealing with the Tajik opposition if that was the opposition's choice, but that Russia prefers for the two sides in the Tajik conflict to resume their talks.

Interfax reported having learned that Otakhon Latifi, head of the opposition delegation to earlier talks with the Tajik government, is prepared to go to Tashkent. Kozyrev also said that Russia supports the holding of the presidential election scheduled for 25 September; the opposition has called for a boycott. Sergei Stepashin, head of Russia's Federal Counterintelligence Service who is part of the delegation accompanying Kozyrev, told Interfax after the first Russian-Uzbek meeting that there are no differences in the Russian and Uzbek positions on Tajikistan.