Putin to visit Turkmenistan on Oct 8–9 for CIS summit, Caspian ecological talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin will make a working visit to Turkmenistan on October 8–9, presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said, according to TASS, RBC, Vedomosti, Interfax and Kommersant. During the visit, Putin will take part in the CIS Council of Heads of State meeting and the Caspian Ecological Summit, the outlets reported. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]

The official events will be held in the Avaza national tourist zone, a resort complex on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea near Turkmenbashi, Vedomosti and Kommersant reported. Vedomosti said Ushakov noted the events would be held under the chairmanship of Turkmen President Serdar Berdymukhamedov. [ 3 , 6 ]

On October 8, before the official events, Putin is scheduled to meet Berdymukhamedov, Kommersant reported. The next day, the same outlet said, Putin will meet Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Kommersant also reported that Ushakov said a separate meeting between Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Turkmenistan was not planned, though he did not rule out a meeting during the summit. Ushakov said Putin’s communication with journalists after the visit was not planned. [ 6 ]

At the Caspian Ecological Summit, Interfax reported that Putin will speak on October 9 and will stress the need to preserve the natural environment and ensure ecological security of the Caspian Sea. Ushakov said all leaders of the “Caspian Five” would speak. He called the Caspian the world’s largest inland water body and said coastal states were interested in exchanging views. Russia attaches great importance to maintaining peace, stability and security in the Caspian region and its sustainable development on the principles of good-neighborliness and cooperation, Ushakov said. [ 5 ]

Ushakov identified the Caspian Sea’s shallowing as one acute problem for the summit, Interfax reported. He said water levels are cyclical and fluctuate by several meters over decades, and that specialists see the main factor as climate-related, leading to reduced inflow into the Caspian and increased evaporation. The summit is expected to consider cooperation among coastal countries, primarily in environmental protection, with a focus on the shallowing issue. Interfax said a declaration was expected to be adopted after the summit. [ 5 ]

Vedomosti noted that on September 27 Putin congratulated Berdymukhamedov on Turkmenistan’s Independence Day and stressed that relations between the two countries are those of deepened strategic partnership. It recalled that Putin met Berdymukhamedov in Ashgabat in December 2025 after a plenary session of the international forum “Peace and Trust: Unity of Goals for a Sustainable Future,” where Putin highlighted strengthening bilateral economic ties. Putin’s previous visit to Ashgabat was in October 2024, when he took part in an international forum marking the 300th anniversary of the birth of poet Magtymguly Fragi. [ 3 ]