Translated with AI
On June 9, 2026, the XXXIII meeting of the Advisory Council of the Heads of Consular Services of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Member States of the Commonwealth of Independent States was held in Minsk, the press service of the Organization's Executive Committee reported.
Representatives from Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and the CIS Executive Committee participated in the meeting. Representatives from Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan attended the meeting as observers.
Participants discussed the implementation by states of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of April 24, 1963, as well as bilateral consular conventions. Furthermore, issues of cooperation within the framework of the Convention on Legal Assistance and Legal Relations in Civil, Family, and Criminal Matters of October 7, 2002, were considered.
During the discussion, the need to improve information exchange mechanisms between the consular services of Commonwealth states was noted. Participants confirmed their commitment to further cooperation in providing assistance to citizens and the prompt exchange of necessary information.
Council members also agreed to continue updating the list of competent authorities authorized to cooperate in the implementation of the Chisinau Convention. At the same time, they proposed intensifying direct interagency cooperation in the exchange of relevant information and the mutual recognition of issued documents.
Participants paid special attention to digitalization. They emphasized the importance of creating a unified electronic information exchange system between the ministries of justice of the CIS member states as part of the implementation of the Chisinau Convention.
The proposal to hold regular meetings of representatives of justice agencies and other interested agencies of the Commonwealth states at the CIS Executive Committee also received support. Participants believe this format will be an effective tool for discussing problematic issues related to the application of the Chisinau Convention.
The next meeting of the Advisory Council of the Heads of Consular Services of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the CIS Member States is planned to be held in 2027.
