Peskov Comments on Tokayev's Proposal to Bring Russia into Organization of Turkic States

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a briefing that Russia's possible participation in the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) is considered expedient. He said several Russian regions are home to peoples who are historically Turkic in origin, so Russia's participation in the organization's work would be "entirely understandable, expedient and natural."

Peskov noted that Russia has not yet received an official invitation. He said the issue of cooperation with the organization could be discussed during upcoming contacts with Kazakhstan. He stressed that cooperation should take place at the state level, not through independent participation by individual Russian federal subjects.

The remarks follow a proposal by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who at the OTS summit on October 30 suggested including the Russian Federation in the grouping. Tokayev said Russia, as a major power, has maintained close ties with the Turkic world for centuries and that many Turkic peoples historically live on its territory.