CIS Summit in Avaz: key decisions and social agenda
Published 11 October 2026
Last update 12 October 2026
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On 9 October 2026, a meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the CIS was held in the national tourist zone "Avaza" in Turkmenistan under the chairmanship of the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov. The meeting took place in the year of the 35th anniversary of the Commonwealth.
The meeting was attended by the leaders of the CIS states and the CIS Secretary General, Sergey Lebedev. The President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, joined the meeting for the first time in the "CIS Plus" format. The SCO Secretary General, Nurlan Yermekbayev, was present as an observer.
Key Decisions
The participants discussed the development of cooperation within the CIS, issues of regional security, economic interaction, and humanitarian ties.
Following the summit, a statement on the 35th anniversary of the CIS was adopted, and decisions were approved in the areas of information policy, border security, the 2030 round of population censuses, and countering crimes in the field of information technology.
Chairmanship Passes to Uzbekistan
From 1 January 2027, the CIS chairmanship passes to Uzbekistan. Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan will become co-chairs.
The next meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the CIS is scheduled for October 2027 in Bukhara.
Healthcare and Social Development
2026 is being held in the CIS as the Year of Health Protection. Practical discussion of healthcare issues will continue at the meeting of the CIS Council for Cooperation in Healthcare, scheduled for 26–27 November 2026 in Tashkent. In 2026, Uzbekistan holds the chairmanship of this Council.
CIS Thematic Years
At the summit, directions were approved for the two following thematic years:
• 2028 — Year of Social Development and Quality of Life;
• 2029 — Year of Transport Connectivity of the CIS.
2027 will be held as the Year of Legal Education — this decision was adopted earlier, in October 2024.
Quality of Life — A Broad Social Agenda
In the context of the 2028 thematic year, quality of life covers not only health issues, but also the well-being of citizens, employment, social support, and the development of the social and labour sphere.
Such an approach makes it possible to consider health in conjunction with the conditions of daily life and the social protection of the population.
Source: CIS Executive Committee — summit outcomes.
The meeting was attended by the leaders of the CIS states and the CIS Secretary General, Sergey Lebedev. The President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, joined the meeting for the first time in the "CIS Plus" format. The SCO Secretary General, Nurlan Yermekbayev, was present as an observer.
Key DecisionsThe participants discussed the development of cooperation within the CIS, issues of regional security, economic interaction, and humanitarian ties.
Following the summit, a statement on the 35th anniversary of the CIS was adopted, and decisions were approved in the areas of information policy, border security, the 2030 round of population censuses, and countering crimes in the field of information technology.
Chairmanship Passes to UzbekistanFrom 1 January 2027, the CIS chairmanship passes to Uzbekistan. Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan will become co-chairs.
The next meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the CIS is scheduled for October 2027 in Bukhara.
Healthcare and Social Development2026 is being held in the CIS as the Year of Health Protection. Practical discussion of healthcare issues will continue at the meeting of the CIS Council for Cooperation in Healthcare, scheduled for 26–27 November 2026 in Tashkent. In 2026, Uzbekistan holds the chairmanship of this Council.
CIS Thematic YearsAt the summit, directions were approved for the two following thematic years:
• 2028 — Year of Social Development and Quality of Life;
• 2029 — Year of Transport Connectivity of the CIS.
2027 will be held as the Year of Legal Education — this decision was adopted earlier, in October 2024.
Quality of Life — A Broad Social AgendaIn the context of the 2028 thematic year, quality of life covers not only health issues, but also the well-being of citizens, employment, social support, and the development of the social and labour sphere.
Such an approach makes it possible to consider health in conjunction with the conditions of daily life and the social protection of the population.
Source: CIS Executive Committee — summit outcomes.
