A phone conversation took place on 30 December 2025, between the National Leader of the Turkmen people and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and the Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Valentina Matviyenko, according to the state news agency TDH.
During the discussion, the sides reviewed the current state of Turkmen-Russian relations, emphasizing the importance of high-level contacts, parliamentary cooperation, and collaboration in humanitarian areas.
Additionally, Arkadag Berdimuhamedov outlined plans for hosting the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit in Turkmenistan in 2026.
High-Level Political Contacts
As noted, Turkmen-Russian relations became more productive in 2025, marked by several key events. In this context, Berdimuhamedov highlighted the significance of the Turkmen President’s visits to Russia to participate in celebrations commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory (World War II) and a high-level meeting of CIS heads of state.
The National Leader recalled that Turkmenistan supported the “Train of Memory” initiative to honor the victory in the Great Patriotic War, with a delegation of Turkmen schoolchildren taking part.
Berdimuhamedov noted that Turkmenistan highly values Russia’s commitment to strengthening cooperation, its support for Turkmenistan’s neutral foreign policy, and its efforts to preserve and enhance international stability, while promoting a philosophy of peace, trust, and respectful dialogue in interstate relations.
This was exemplified by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s participation in the International Forum for Peace and Trust, as well as celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality.
Interparliamentary and Humanitarian Cooperation
The conversation underscored that the October 2025 visit to Moscow by a Turkmen delegation led by the Chairperson of the Mejlis was a significant contribution to bolstering parliamentary ties between the two countries.
Furthermore, Arkadag Berdimuhamedov expressed confidence that upcoming negotiations with the Chairperson of the Federation Council in the following year would elevate Turkmen-Russian relations to a new level.
A key event in advancing humanitarian cooperation was the visit to St. Petersburg by a Turkmen delegation headed by Oghuljahan Atabaeva, Vice President of the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children in Need of Guardianship, to participate in the 4th International Forum “Commonwealth of Fashion.” Taking the opportunity, Arkadag thanked the hosts for the warm reception extended to the Turkmen delegation and the chance to meet with the Federation Council Chairperson during the forum.
CIS Summit 2026
During the call, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov announced that, in accordance with the decision of the CIS Council of Heads of State, the next CIS Summit will take place in Turkmenistan on 9 October 2026.
The event will be held in the National Tourist Zone Awaza.
In addition, as part of Turkmenistan’s CIS chairmanship, planned activities include the Women’s Dialogue, a session of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, and a Conference on Demographic Issues.
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In concluding the conversation, the National Leader of the Turkmen people emphasized that the constructive, respectful nature of bilateral ties—rooted in friendship, good neighborliness, and trust—forms the foundation of current Turkmenistan-Russia relations. He highly praised Matviyenko’s contributions to achieving this high level of interstate cooperation.
In turn, the speaker of Russia’s upper house of parliament assured the National Leader of Russia’s unwavering commitment to deepening bilateral relations between the two nations.