On Friday October 10, the heads of state of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) convened at the Palace of the Nation in Dushanbe for a high-level summit chaired by Tajik President Emomali Rahmon.
The summit gathered regional leaders including Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. CIS Secretary-General Sergey Lebedev was also in attendance.
Key topics on the agenda
During the session, participants discussed a wide range of strategic issues, including:
- Strengthening security cooperation, with an emphasis on combating terrorism and extremism.
- Developing transport and logistics infrastructure and expanding economic ties between CIS countries.
- Advancing digital integration and applying modern technologies across various sectors.
- Ensuring energy security and stable energy supply.
- Enhancing humanitarian cooperation, with a particular focus on cultural exchange and preserving shared heritage.
President Rahmon proposed establishing a new framework titled “CIS Plus,” aimed at expanding cooperation with non-member countries and international organizations.
Documents signed and future plans
The summit concluded with the signing of 19 key documents, including a Cooperation Program to Combat Terrorism and Extremism for 2026–2028, an Agreement on Joint Action Against Transnational Crime, and a Declaration on Regional Energy Security.
It was also confirmed that Turkmenistan will assume the CIS chairmanship from Tajikistan starting January 1, 2026. The next CIS Heads of State Council meeting is scheduled for October 9, 2026, in Turkmenistan.
CIS Secretary-General Sergey Lebedev was reappointed for a new term by unanimous decision of the member states.
President Emomali Rahmon honored for cultural contributions
In recognition of his efforts to promote humanitarian cooperation across the CIS, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon was awarded the “For Merit in the Development of Humanitarian Cooperation” medal by the Interstate Humanitarian Cooperation Fund of the CIS (IFHC).
The award was presented by Mikhail Shvydkoy, Co-Chair of the IFHC Board. In his acceptance speech, President Rahmon said he viewed the honor as a tribute to the people of Tajikistan and their contributions to cultural and humanitarian collaboration in the CIS region.
Following the summit, participating leaders attended an official reception hosted by the President of Tajikistan.
