Kremlin Says Russian Role in Organization of Turkic States Would Be ‘Natural’

Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that Russia has not received an official invitation, though the idea will come up in contacts with Astana, according to RIA Novosti. Vedomosti said he was responding to its question.

No Invitation, but a Place on the Agenda

Peskov spoke to journalists. “As I understand it, there has been no official invitation of any kind, but nevertheless, of course, this topic will surely be on the agenda of our contacts, including with Astana, with our friends from Astana,” he said.

Clash Report found no earlier Kremlin comment on the Kazakh proposal.

Peskov Cites Russia’s Turkic Peoples

Peskov tied the Kremlin’s position to Russia’s own population. “As for Russia’s participation in the Organization of Turkic States, you know that Russia has a number of regions whose peoples are also Turkic by historical origin,” he said, according to RIA. “So, of course, it would be quite understandable, and appropriate, and natural.”

He did not name the regions. The Times of Central Asia notes that Russia’s population includes Tatars, Bashkirs, Yakuts and other Turkic peoples.

Peskov stressed that he was speaking of participation by the Russian Federation as a whole, not by individual regions.

Tokayev’s Proposal in Ankara

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev made the proposal on Oct. 30 at the 13th summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Ankara. He suggested inviting Russia to join the “OTS+” format or take part as an observer, not as a full member. Clash Report covered the leaders’ dinner the night before.

“To enhance the standing of our Organization, it would be a right and fair decision to respond positively to Russia’s intention and invite it to join this format or participate in OTS activities as an observer,” Tokayev said, according to the Times of Central Asia.

The outlet noted that Russia itself has made no public announcement of plans to take part. Tokayev cited Russia’s historical ties with the Turkic world and the “Altai – Cradle of Turkic Civilization” project. Vedomosti said he added that Russian participation would benefit all member states.

According to the Times of Central Asia, OTS+ is a framework for cooperation with outside partners. Observer status allows more regular participation without the decision-making rights of full members.

Tokayev also repeated that the organization should not become a military alliance.

No Decision at the Summit

No decision on Russia’s status was reported from the summit. Türkiye took over the rotating chairmanship from Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan’s Mirvokhid Azimov was named secretary-general, succeeding Kyrgyzstan’s Kubanychbek Omuraliev.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev did not attend, although Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had invited him by phone on Oct. 21. Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov represented Baku.

An Azerbaijani news agency attributed the absence to a previously scheduled FIFA U-15 tournament event, the Times of Central Asia reported. Baku has not officially linked it to any political disagreement.

No official reaction from Türkiye, the current chair, had been reported by midday Monday.

What the Bloc Is

The organization’s full members are Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Hungary, Turkmenistan and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are observers.

It began as the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States under the 2009 Nakhchivan Agreement and took its current name in 2021. Its work covers political, economic, cultural, transport and energy cooperation.

Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan also belong to the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Eurasian Economic Union. Moscow and Astana are also building Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant, as Clash Report reported.

No timeline for any decision on Russia’s role has been announced.