Commonwealth of Independent States News & Analysis

Commonwealth of Independent States

Including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and an associate in Turkmenistan, the CIS is a Eurasian trade bloc that achieved about US$125 billion in multilateral trade in 2025, with an average GDP growth rate of approximately 4.7%. Key developments include new trade platforms (CIS Plus), focus on infrastructure like the CKU railway, and expansion of free trade agreements, especially for services, enhancing regional economic integration within Eurasia and beyond. Understand the CIS market for business. Get analysis on trade regulations, economic integration, and cross-border investment opportunities within this key post-Soviet economic zone.

Putin visit Kazakhstan
Featured May 31, 2026

Putin’s State Visit To Kazakhstan: Results, Signed Agreements and Analysis

Russian President Putin and a substantial delegation have just completed a State visit to Kazakhstan where he also participated in meetings of the Heads of State of the Eurasian Economic Union. The three-day visit produced more than ten bilateral deals affecting all of Eurasia. We deep dive what happened and provide comprehensive analysis. This article is essential reading for all involved in Eurasian affairs.

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Ashgabat
Featured May 28, 2026

The Commonwealth Of Independent States Ashgabat Summit: Key Takeaways & Analysis

The Commonwealth of Independent States has just held its annual meetings in Ashgabat, including leaders from Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Significant developments took place in unifying a practical Eurasian geoeconomic platform centered around transport integration, industrial modernization, digital governance, logistics sovereignty, strategic mineral supply chains, customs digitization, agricultural security, energy coordination, and sanctions-resistant continental trade. This article is crucial intelligence for anyone involved in the Eurasian and Central Asian trade space.

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Turkmenistan Bilateral
May 23, 2026

Russia, Turkmenistan Discuss Bilateral Trade

Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Mikhail Mishuston, had met with the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, in Ashgabat to discuss significant bilateral trade and investment issues. Both are also attending the CIS Annual Heads of Government Meetings. Russia-Turkmenistan developments are being sped up due to the need to create alternative trade routes with Iran.

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Armenia Plan
May 22, 2026

Armenia Has “No Plans” To Exit The Eurasian Economic Union

The Armenian Foreign Minister has firmly rebuffed European media claims that the country is looking to exit the Eurasian Economic Un ion and wants to join the EU. He stated that Armenia has no intention of taking such a step, that it is unconstitutional, and not on any development agenda. Armenia has no European border, while its trade with the EU is just 7.5% of its total compared to 38% with Russia.

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HPV
May 20, 2026

Russia To Start Exports Of HPV Vaccines To Friendly Countries 

Russia’s Nanolek is investing in a second HPV vaccine production line to satisfy markets in the Commonwealth of Independent States, Eurasian Economic Union, Central and Southeast Asia as well as Africa. The line will increase vaccine production to 6 million doses a year and should be completed by 2027.

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Kazakh rare earth
May 17, 2026

Russia, Kazakhstan Confirm South Irgiz Rare Earth Deposits As Worlds Largest 

Russia and Kazakhstan geologists have discovered what is likely to be the world’s largest deposit of rare earths, in Kazakhstan’s South Irgiz region. According to scientific estimates, rare earth metal resources at the cluster exceed 20 million tonnes. Rare earths are essential ingredients in numerous global hi-tech applications, with the largest deposits thus found being from China, Brazil, India, Australia, Russia and now Kazakhstan.

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CAREC
May 9, 2026

CAREC Member States Discuss CARTIF Trade & Investment Agreement

The CAREC group of Central Asian nations is to expedite their regional comprehensive and transparent regional cooperation mechanism to facilitate cross-border trade and investment. These will link with Russian and Chinese digital logistics networks to the east and west and further enhance multilateral, Eurasian trade efficiencies.

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Kazakhstan Bilateral Relatuon
May 3, 2026

Russia – Kazakhstan Bilateral Relations: May 2026 Update 

The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, has been visiting the President and Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan in Astana. The two countries bilateral trade dipped slightly last year, and with joint memberships in the Eurasian Economic Union, Commonwealth of Independent States and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, plus increasing need for developing China transit, both parties signed a development agreement for 2027-2028.

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May 1, 2026

The Fundamental Differences Between the USSR and the Russian Federation

Western critics sometimes compare contemporary Russia with the Soviet Union. In this article we discuss the economic development of the USSR and compare it to the development of the Russian Federation. We underline why they are fundamentally different, the economic and social reasonings for this, and why Moscow is not intent on ‘recreating’ the USSR.

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