Putin Arrives In Bishkek For CIS Leaders Summit, Armenian PM Absent

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek on October 12 to take part in a summit of the Council of the Leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) scheduled for October 13. It is Putin's second trip to Kyrgyzstan since Russia launched its ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Nikol Pashinian, the prime minister of Armenia, a CIS member-state, said earlier this week that he will not participate in the summit. Pashinian's absence -- Armenia's foreign minister is attending instead -- highlights a growing rift between Yerevan and Moscow. To read the original report by RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service, click here.