Putin’s first Turkmenistan visit in five years ends with mostly symbolic agreement

Putin’s first Turkmenistan visit in five years ends with mostly symbolic agreement
During his visit, Putin Putin also presented Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov with a state award of the Russian Federation – the Order of Alexander Nevsky. / Kremlin.ru
By bne IntelliNews October 3, 2017

The presidents of Russia and Turkmenistan signed a "strategic partnership" agreement to reaffirm cooperation between their two countries as part of Vladimir Putin’s one-day visit to Turkmenistan on October 2. The last time Putin visited the remote Central Asian country was in 2012.

The agreement is seen as mostly symbolic. Putin’s visit took place after Russia's telecom giant, MTS, suspended its operations in Turkmenistan after the Turkmen authorities cut off its access to the intercity and international communications network, though neither Putin nor Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov explicitly mentioned the issue publicly. It is not unheard of for Turkmenistan to enter into disputes with Russia. Differences have included a gas dispute that ended with Russia halting imports of Turkmen gas supplies.

The deals signed by the presidents address none of the ongoing issues between the two ex-Soviet countries. Instead, the two sides agreed to establish mutual representation of migration offices and cooperation in combating illegal drug-trafficking.

Putin last met with Berdimuhamedov in November 2016 in Sochi, Russia.

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