ISTANBUL

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday wished his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rahmon success in his country’s upcoming chairmanship in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

“Dear colleagues, as of January 1, Russia will transfer the functions of the chairmanship of the Commonwealth to Tajikistan. I would like to wish Emomali Sharipovich (Rahmon) and all our Tajik friends success,” Putin said at an informal meeting of CIS leaders in Russia’s Leningrad region.

Expressing Russia’s readiness to provide all necessary assistance, Putin said he is convinced that deepening partnership within the CIS in a variety of areas “meets the fundamental interests of the peoples of our countries.”

Putin further said he is confident that all member states will continue to work together to address problems regarding socioeconomic development while also strengthening stability and security.

The informal meeting chaired by Russia was attended by the presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

The CIS is a regional organization formed after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 by its former members to promote cooperation in economic, political, and security affairs.

It has nine members—Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan—and Turkmenistan, which is an associate member. Moldova suspended its participation in CIS meetings in 2022.