CSTO Parliamentarians Coordinated Positions on the Margins of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly

CSTO parliamentarians are taking part in the 152nd session of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Istanbul, held under the motto “Nurturing Hope, Ensuring Peace and Justice for Future Generations.” On April 15, a coordination meeting of the heads of parliamentary delegations from CSTO Member States to the Inter-Parliamentary Union took place.

Among the delegates are Sergei Aleinik and Sergei Rachkov, members of the Council of the Republic and the House of Representatives of the Parliament of Belarus; Unzila Shapak, a member of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan; Burul Amanova, a deputy of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic; Pyotr Tolstoy, deputy Speaker of the State Duma of the Russian Federation; and Gayrat Azizzoda, deputy of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the Majlisi Oli of Tajikistan. Sergei Pospelov, Executive Secretary of the CSTO PA, addressed the meeting via video call.

During the meeting, the parties discussed issues of coordinating the foreign policies of the CSTO Member States’ parliamentary delegations within the IPU and exchanged views on the agenda of the 152nd IPU Assembly, as well as on other relevant issues of mutual interest.

“The most important task is to establish coordinated approaches and a legal framework for the development of collective security of the CSTO Member States, to ensure that peacekeeping forces are fully prepared to carry out missions that may arise within the CSTO area and in UN peacekeeping operations, and to expand cooperation in the field of military medicine and protection against biological threats. Unfortunately, this issue has been growing recently, and we need to maximize integration,” stressed Pyotr Tolstoy, the meeting coordinator.

Sergei Rachkov, Chairman of the Standing Commission on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus, Chairman of the Eurasia geopolitical group noted that “the key to solving current international security problems lies in Eurasia” and pointed out that in 2026 the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly celebrates its 20th anniversary.

Sergei Pospelov, Executive Secretary of the CSTO PA, pointed out that the parliamentary delegations will soon meet in Moscow. On April 20, the next meeting of the Council of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly will take place in the Russian capital.

As you may recall, the Inter-Parliamentary Union is the oldest international non-governmental organization, established in 1889 to coordinate the work of the world’s parliaments and promote democracy. It comprises 180 national parliaments. The IPU’s headquarters are located in Geneva.