In the Avaza National Tourist Zone, Turkmenistan, the CIS summit will be held on October 7-9, 2026. It will culminate the meetings of the highest CIS bodies as well as of the CIS Member States Council of Public TV and Radio Organizations and the CIS Administrative Council of the Interstate Information Pool.
In his welcoming address CIS Secretary-General Sergey Lebedev noted the deeply symbolic nature of holding the events on hospitable Turkmen soil under Turkmenistan’s fruitful chairmanship of the Organization.
“The CIS member states interaction in the media sphere remains one of the most important areas of the integration. In the Concept for the Further Development of the Commonwealth (in Russian), the cooperation in developing a common information space is defined as one of the main tasks of the humanitarian partnership, the fulfillment of which will ensure the strengthening of the CIS member states relations”, the address said.
Sergey Lebedev also noted Turkmenistan’s active position in the humanitarian dialogue and the development of the CIS countries information sphere, the expansion of the bilateral interaction with the states participating in the Council, as well as in the Interstate Information Pool.
The exchange of experience and media materials created by the CIS countries TV and radio companies contributes to the further improvement of the activities of national TV and radio organisations. It familiarizes the public with the positive changes and transformations taking place in our countries.
At the same time, the CIS Secretary-General drew attention to the fact that the modern media sphere is undergoing a period of rapid transformation. The digitalisation, the widespread introduction of artificial intelligence and neural networks, the growth of new platforms, changing the media consumption and increasing the audience demands for the information reliability were setting new standards of work for all participants in the information field.
In such conditions, the responsibility for shaping public opinion, strengthening trust between states and ensuring information security were increasing.
“A special role in this context is played by the CIS countries TV and radio companies. You act as a connecting link between the Commonwealth states, contribute to strengthening mutual understanding, preserving the common humanitarian space and developing the constructive dialogue. Your work shapes a trustworthy information environment, where the respect for facts, objectivity and ethical standards becomes the main guideline,” the address emphasized.
The CIS Secretary-General also expressed confidence that new ideas and initiatives would be put forward during the meeting that would contribute to aligning media projects of the Commonwealth countries TV and radio companies, harmonizing and strengthening the common information space, and deepening their interaction in the information sphere.
In conclusion, Sergey Lebedev wished the participants successful, fruitful work, the productive experience exchange and the joint solutions development.