Bishkek and the Chuy region of Kyrgyzstan are under temporary traffic restrictions ahead of the upcoming session of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) Security Council, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Drivers are advised not to leave vehicles on the roadside, to avoid unnecessary heavy vehicle use, and to follow traffic police instructions, while residents are encouraged to plan their journeys accordingly. To ease pressure on the city’s roads, schools in Bishkek will switch to online learning for several days, after which in-person classes will resume. Higher education institutions will also move online during the period immediately before the summit. More than 4000 police officers have been deployed to ensure order, highlighting the event’s importance for city security.

The CSTO summit, taking place on 27th November, will bring together leaders from member states to discuss cooperation on issues including illegal drug trafficking and unauthorised migration. A key agenda item is the appointment of a new Secretary General for a three-year term.

In addition to Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, the summit will include the presidents of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan. Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Kyrgyzstan on a state visit and will participate in the summit following official meetings with local leaders.

The CSTO is a military-political alliance of several post-Soviet states: Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. Armenia suspended its participation last year, citing dissatisfaction with the CSTO’s lack of support during the conflict with Azerbaijan, when Baku regained control of Nagorno-Karabakh after nearly three decades of ethnic Armenian administration.

Since 2023, the Secretary General has been Imangali Tasmagambetov, a former senior Kazakh official. His term is due to end soon, and Kyrgyz representative Taalatbek Masadykov is expected to succeed him.

The CSTO was established in 2002 on the basis of the 1992 Collective Security Treaty as a regional organisation designed to strengthen peace, ensure security, and collectively protect the independence and territorial integrity of member states. The summit in Bishkek reaffirms the organisation’s strategic role in Central Asia and its influence on regional geopolitics.

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