Kremlin "understands" Azerbaijani president’s decision to skip CIS informal summit

Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow "understands" President Ilham Aliyev’s decision not to participate in the informal CIS leaders’ summit on December 22, per Gazeta.ru.

Peskov noted, “We understand. All heads of state have busy schedules, especially in December before the New Year. We continue to develop partnership relations, and Azerbaijan remains engaged in all formats of the Commonwealth.”

Earlier today, President Aliyev’s Administration confirmed that President Aliyev would be unable to attend the informal CIS leaders’ summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, on December 22, due to his busy work schedule.

President Ilham Aliyev took part in the CIS Council of Heads of State meeting held on October 9–10 this year in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, where meetings conducted both bilaterally and multilaterally were described as productive.

By Khagan Isayev