TURKMENBASY /Turkmenistan/, October 8. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin will depart today for a working visit to Turkmenistan. The Awaza national tourist zone on the Caspian Sea will host two multilateral events in the coming days, both of which the Russian leader will attend: the CIS summit and the Caspian Environmental Summit.

Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov previously told reporters that Putin's first day on the Caspian coast will be devoted to protocol events related to the arrival of many distinguished guests.

The participants include Putin, Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, as well as Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Belarusian head of state Alexander Lukashenko, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, his Kyrgyz counterpart Sadyr Japarov, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and Uzbek leader Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

To honor the distinguished guests, the Turkmen president will host an official reception that will conclude with a spectacular fireworks display.

In addition to the ceremonial events associated with organizing meetings of this level, the Russian president will hold a one-on-one bilateral meeting with the summit’s host Serdar Berdimuhamedov. The two leaders are in constant contact and regularly speak on the phone, but invariably take the opportunity to discuss their approaches during face-to-face meetings as well.

Putin last visited Turkmenistan just under a year ago.