On August 25, Minsk hosted a regular meeting of the Council of Permanent Plenipotentiary Representatives of the CIS Member States to the Charter and Other Bodies of the Commonwealth, attended by CIS Secretary General Sergei Lebedev. The primary focus of the meeting was drafting the agenda for the upcoming CIS Council of Heads of Government meeting, scheduled for December in Moscow. The Heads of Government will be invited to consider a comprehensive package of documents covering cooperation in industry, innovation, fundamental science, radionavigation, taxation, and environmental safety. The humanitarian block includes draft projects on forming a common educational space, developing tourism, holding the «Commonwealth» International Film Festival, and preparing for the Year of Legal Education in 2027. The diplomats also reviewed the progress made in expanding the Commonwealth's external ties. Concrete steps were noted regarding the implementation of the Observer and Partner statuses within the CIS, as well as the «CIS Plus» format, which is designed to strengthen political and economic engagement with non-member states and international organizations. In particular, participants highlighted the decision granting the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Observer status to the CIS. Special attention at the meeting was given to current organizational and regional matters:
- Procedural steps regarding the formalization of the Republic of Moldova's withdrawal from the CIS were discussed.
- The Permanent Plenipotentiary Representative of Turkmenistan, Ambassador Nazarkuly Shakulyyev, informed the participants about preparations for the 35th anniversary of Turkmenistan's state independence and the meeting of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, scheduled to take place on September 23, 2026, in Ashgabat at the 'Maslahat köşgi' Palace.
- Representatives of the Kyrgyz Republic and Kazakhstan delivered reports on recent high-level foreign policy events and the results of the parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan held on August 23, 2026.
- The next meeting of the Council of Permanent Plenipotentiary Representatives of the CIS Member States is scheduled for September 29.
