Turkmenistan’s Ambassador to Russia and Plenipotentiary Representative to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Esen Aydogdyev, presented the country’s Concept for its 2026 CIS Chairmanship during a meeting of the Commission on Economic Affairs under the CIS Economic Council in Moscow on 22 January 2026.
Aydogdyev outlined the key priorities for Turkmenistan’s leadership of the organization, which began on 1 January 2026, succeeding Tajikistan.
“In 2026, Turkmenistan has assumed the chairmanship of the Commonwealth of Independent States,” the ambassador stated. “As President Serdar Berdimuhamedov emphasized, Turkmenistan regards this decision by the heads of our states as evidence of respect and trust toward our country from all member states, as well as recognition of Turkmenistan’s contribution to the development of the CIS. Turkmenistan approaches this responsibility with full awareness of the scale and level of the tasks we must address together.”
According to Aydogdyev, Ashgabat’s primary goal during its chairmanship is to promote comprehensive strengthening of cooperation and partnership among member states, maximizing the CIS’s potential to support effective development, improve public welfare, and enhance quality of life across the Commonwealth.
In the political sphere, Turkmenistan will focus on bolstering regional security and trust, advancing principles of neutrality, and intensifying diplomatic engagement to reinforce the CIS as a platform for peaceful dialogue and mutual understanding.
A key emphasis will be placed on advancing economic, transport, and energy cooperation, guided by the CIS Economic Development Strategy through 2030. Special attention will go to the CIS’s logistical capabilities as a vital link connecting Eurasian, Caspian, Central Asian, and Middle Eastern spaces. In this context, Turkmenistan proposes declaring 2027 the “Year of Transport Connectivity in the CIS.”
Humanitarian cooperation will also receive prominent priority. “Our country believes that collaboration in education, science, culture, tourism, and media strengthens mutual understanding and preserves the spiritual heritage of CIS peoples,” Aydogdyev stressed.
Ecology and sustainable development remain traditional focus areas for Turkmenistan. The country plans to prioritize renewable energy cooperation and Caspian biodiversity protection, including efforts to convene the Second Caspian Ecological Forum in 2026.
The ambassador underscored that Turkmenistan’s chairmanship will strictly adhere to the CIS’s core principles and objectives.
“We expect that Turkmenistan’s chairmanship will significantly strengthen the CIS’s position as a platform for equitable cooperation and trust,” Aydogdyev concluded. “It will contribute to expanding economic and transport ties among member states, developing new approaches to 21st-century ecological and digital challenges, and enhancing the Commonwealth’s international standing as a space of stability and constructive partnership.”
Tight collaboration among CIS countries, he added, will be essential for reinforcing unity, pragmatism, and trust, successfully implementing integration initiatives, and elevating the organization’s global authority.
On the same day, Aydogdyev met with CIS Secretary General Sergei Lebedev. The sides discussed joint work under Turkmenistan’s 2026 chairmanship and plans to organize upcoming events at a high organizational and substantive level. Lebedev assured full support from the CIS Executive Committee in implementing the chairmanship concept and ensuring successful activities. ///nCa, 22 January 2026