From July 7 to 9, second staff talks were held in the Russian Federation on the organization and conduct of the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Forces (CRRF) command-and-staff exercise “Interaction-2026”, the special reconnaissance exercise “Poisk-2026”, and the logistics support exercise “Echelon-2026”.
In accordance with the 2026 Action Plan of the Coordinating Council of Heads of the Competent Authorities for Countering Illicit Drug Trafficking of the CSTO Member States, and as part of the Russian Federation's priorities during its 2026 CSTO Chairmanship, the sub-regional counter-narcotics operation “Kanal – Amber Coast” was conducted from June 29 to July 3, 2026. The operation was aimed at disrupting trafficking routes for narcotic drugs, their precursors and analogues, new psychoactive substances, and potent substances into the CSTO area of responsibility, neutralizing international transnational drug trafficking groups, dismantling clandestine drug production facilities, undermining the economic foundations of the drug trade, including the laundering of drug proceeds.
The 12th Southern Information Security Forum “Infoforum Sochi 2026” is taking place in Sochi, Russia, from June 30 to July 3. On July 1, the Forum's plenary session brought together representatives of federal and regional authorities, regulatory bodies, leading companies, and international organizations to discuss current challenges in the protection of critical infrastructure, the development of artificial intelligence, and international cooperation.
On June 30 – July 1, 2026, Saint Petersburg hosted a series of events chaired by Alexander Kurenkov, Minister of the Russian Federation for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters, with the participation of heads of the competent authorities of the CSTO member states responsible for emergency prevention and response.
From June 24 to 26, 2026, CSTO Secretary General Talatbek Masadykov paid a working visit to the Republic of Tajikistan at the personal invitation of President Emomali Rahmon.
The CSTO Secretary General had a meeting with the Secretary of the Security Council and the Defense Minister of the Republic of Armenia in Yerevan
22.12.2021
On December 22, 2021, the CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas had a meeting with the Defense Minister of the Republic of Armenia Armen Grigoryan in Yerevan.
The program of measures proposed by the Armenian side for its presidency in the Organization have been discussed in detail. The parties recognized it advisable to focus collective efforts on countering terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, and strengthening migration and biological security.
The parties exchanged views on facilitating the reduction of tension on the Armenian-Azerbaijani and Tajik-Afghan borders. In this context, the CSTO Secretary General stressed the increased likelihood of migration flows of Afghan refugees towards the territories of CSTO member States, defining it as a migration challenge.
The Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan presented the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, stressing that for Armenia overcoming this challenge was a task of paramount importance. In this context, the two sides stressed the importance of ensuring conditions for the early start of the delimitation and demarcation process of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.
On the same day, the CSTO Secretary General held a meeting with the Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan. Stanislav Zas congratulated Papikyan on his appointment as Minister of Defense. The Minister of Defense stressed that the Armenian side's priorities would include the enhancement and improvement of the Organization's efficiency, as well as further development of its military component.
The parties emphasized the importance of 2022 in connection with the 30th anniversary of the Collective Security Treaty and the 20th anniversary of the Collective Security Treaty Organization and confirmed that the activities planned for the next year would be carried out more effectively in the interest of increasing the interaction of the CSTO member States and expanding the international role of the Organization.
____________________________________________________________
The CSTO Press Secretary Vladimir Zaynetdinov
+7 495-795-27-10
+7 495-621-33-23
