On October 30, 2026, the results of the “Channel-Caspian Lighthouse” subregional anti-drug operation were summed up as part of the implementation of the 2026 Plan of Key Activities of the Coordinating Council of Heads of Competent Drug Control Authorities of CSTO Member States (CCHCDCA).
From October 18 to 23 this year, in accordance with the 2026 Plan for the Joint Training of Command and Control Bodies and Formations of Forces and Assets of the Collective Security System of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the “Cobalt-2026” special exercise was held at the Magob training range of the Special Purpose Units Training Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan.
An international scientific and practical conference entitled “Greater Eurasia: Institutions, Development, Cooperation” was held at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, jointly organized with the Institute of China and Contemporary Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ICCA RAS). CSTO Secretary General Talatbek Masadykov took part in the conference.
A working meeting between CSTO Secretary General Talatbek Masadykov and Kazem Jalali, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Russian Federation, was held at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Russian Federation.
An international scientific and practical conference entitled “Transformation of the Global Security System and the Shaping of a Eurasian Security Framework” was held at Moscow State Linguistic University (MSLU).
Acting CSTO Secretary General Valery Semerikov took part in the Regional Meeting on Countering the Supply of Weapons to Terrorists in Central Asia
15.07.2026
On July 15, 2026, the High-Level Regional Meeting “Enhancing Capacities to Prevent the Supply of Weapons to Terrorists in Central Asia” was held in Moscow. The event was organized by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism with the participation of the Russian side.
The meeting was chaired by Acting UN Under-Secretary-General Alexander Zuev.
A welcoming address on behalf of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was delivered by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Dmitry Lubinsky.
The event was attended by Acting CSTO Secretary General Valery Semerikov, Head of the CIS Anti-Terrorism Center Evgeny Sysoev, Deputy Director of the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure Artur Golovanov, as well as heads of counter-terrorism agencies of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
In his speech, Valery Semerikov spoke about the CSTO’s annual permanent operational and preventive operations — “Mercenary”, “Channel”, “Illegal” and “Proxy” — within which systematic efforts are carried out, alongside their main objectives, to seize weapons and explosives. Over the past five years, these operations resulted in the seizure of 8,374 firearms, more than 59,000 rounds of ammunition and 2,000 kilograms of explosives from illicit circulation, with 296 criminal cases initiated. In addition, 46 terrorist attacks were prevented, the activities of 307 terrorist groups were disrupted, and the total volume of seized narcotics exceeded 437 tonnes. Valery Semerikov emphasized that the effectiveness of the special operations has increased due to measures implemented within the Organization and closer cooperation with relevant structures of the CIS, SCO and UN.
Speaking about further steps, the Acting CSTO Secretary General noted that the CSTO Collective Security Council had approved the Counter-Terrorism and Anti-Drug Strategies for 2026–2030, as well as the Plan for improving the Organization’s Collective Forces. The Targeted Interstate Program on strengthening the Tajik-Afghan border is being implemented, which will help reduce tensions in the region.
“To enhance coordination of efforts to counter international terrorism and combat the illicit trafficking of weapons, we are committed to closer cooperation with the CIS, SCO and UN within the framework of existing agreements. In this context, on the sidelines of the International Security Forum held on June 28 in Moscow, we signed a Framework Document on cooperation with the African Union Counter-Terrorism Centre,” Valery Semerikov stated.
The participants of the meeting also discussed best practices for countering the use of small arms, improvised explosive devices and unmanned aerial vehicles for terrorist purposes.
