TURKMENBASHI, October 9, 2026: Leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) gathered in Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan, on Friday for a meeting of the Council of Heads of State, focusing on regional cooperation, economic ties and future priorities.Hosted in the Avaza National Tourist Zone, the meeting brought together senior leaders to review cooperation within the Commonwealth and discuss ways to strengthen political dialogue and collaboration across member states.
The participating leaders included Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan were also present at the wider gathering.Discussions covered cooperation in economic and trade affairs, transport connectivity, cultural and humanitarian exchanges, information technology and coordination on regional and international issues.Turkmenistan’s leadership highlighted the CIS as an important platform for political dialogue, mutual respect and the expansion of economic and humanitarian partnerships.
The meeting comes as the Commonwealth marks the 35th anniversary of its establishment in 2026.The gathering reflects continued efforts by participating countries to maintain regional engagement and explore opportunities for closer cooperation amid evolving international and economic challenges.Source: International Information Centre of Turkmenistan; official reports from participating countries.
