Vladimir Bulavin Outlines Results of Russia's CSTO Priorities at the Visiting Session in Minsk

On October 15, as part of a visiting session of the Coordination Meeting of Chairpersons of Committees (Commissions) on Defense and Security of the Parliaments of the CSTO Member States under the CSTO PA Council, Vladimir Bulavin, Chairman of the Defense and Security Committee of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, delivered a speech. He focused on the progress in implementing the Russian Federation's priorities during its 2026 chairmanship of the Organization.

The meeting in Minsk coincided with the conclusion of the Nerushimoye bratstvo-2026 large-scale CSTO peacekeeping exercise, and the Barrier special exercise at the Losvido training ground. The Chairman said that it provides an opportunity to show how the Organization's legal work in applied in practice.

Vladimir Bulavin pointed out that Russia's chairmanship is held under the motto "Collective Security in a Multipolar World: A Common Goal, Shared Responsibility," and outlined the results achieved in a number of key areas.

He said the CSTO is deepening its cooperation at international forums and actively expanding trilateral cooperation with the SCO and the CIS.

Vladimir Bulavin shared that, as part of the fight against transnational threats, a draft Anti-Drug Strategy for CSTO Member States until 2030 has been prepared and is to be submitted to the November session of the Collective Security Council (CSC).

He also remarked that in 2026, the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly will celebrate its 20th anniversary.

"Over this time, we adopted more than 100 model legal acts that form the legal framework of the Organization. In November, we plan to submit an Agreement on the Parliamentary Assembly to the CSC for consideration and sign it. It will secure the assembly’s legal status in line with the CSTO Charter," Vladimir Bulavin said.

He also reported significantly expanded cooperation in military medicine, biological security and information security, and highlighted the successful Channel-Amber Coast subregional anti-drug operation, which involved about 39,000 law enforcement officers.

The speaker paid particular attention to parliamentary monitoring of the military and political situation in the Organization's Eastern European collective security region. He urged lawmakers to use its findings when drafting legislative agendas for next year.

"I am confident that timely ratification of agreements and sound legislative backing for the decisions made will remain essential for the agreements reached by heads of state to take full effect," Vladimir Bulavin said, stressing the vital role of parliaments in Eurasian security architecture.