On April 27, 2026, the Plenum of the Coordination Council of the International Union “Commonwealth of Public Veterans’ (Pensioners’) Organizations of Independent States” took place in Moscow. Representatives of veterans' organizations from the Commonwealth states and the CIS Executive Committee participated in the Plenum.
The meeting addressed key issues regarding the organization of the 9th Congress of the International Union “Commonwealth of Public Veterans’ (Pensioners’) Organizations of Independent States”. Proposals on the date of the Congress and representation norms were discussed, with particular attention paid to shaping the agenda.
In addition, meeting participants discussed the experience of veterans’ organizations of the Republic of Kazakhstan in social and legal protection, pension provision, as well as preventive healthcare and wellness activities.
Participants elected members of the Coordination Council Presidium, including new heads of member associations of the Commonwealth and the Editor-in-Chief of the “Veteran-R” newspaper.
A report at the Plenum was delivered by Director of the Department for Cooperation in the Security Sphere of the CIS Executive Committee Evgeny Klemez. He noted that this year is special: in December, the Commonwealth of Independent States will mark the 35th anniversary of its establishment*, while the International Union of Veterans will celebrate 40 years since its founding and activity.
Evgeny Klemez highly praised the work of the Veterans’ Union in preserving and developing the veterans' movement, strengthening friendship among peoples, and fostering cooperation among CIS member states across all areas of integration interaction.
“As an interstate public association, without being a sectoral cooperation body, the International Union of Veterans exerts an active and positive influence on processes and phenomena occurring in many spheres of public life across the Commonwealth member states – from issues of educating the younger generation to fostering in young people a steadfast attitude and conviction about the need to defend their Fatherland,” Evgeny Klemez emphasized.
As an example, he cited the International Union of Veterans’ participation in developing the draft Action Plan for preparing and celebrating the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945 within the CIS in 2025**, and, following its approval by the CIS Heads of Government Council, in implementing the planned activities.
*Learn about the Commonwealth’s development over 35 years via the link (in Russian).
**Read more about the thematic Year of the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War – the Year of Peace and Unity in the Fight Against Nazism (2025) via the link (in Russian).