Pashinyan skips CIS leaders' evening stroll in Dushanbe

Tajikisjan’s state TV has aired footage of Russian President Vladimir Putin and several other leaders of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries taking an evening stroll in Dushanbe ahead of an informal dinner for the summit participants.

Joining the walk through the garden of the Palace of Nations were Presidents Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, Serdar Berdimuhamedow of Turkmenistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan and Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev joined midway, greeting only Putin, RIA Novosti reported.

The garden was decorated with elaborate fruit and vegetable displays, including pyramids of melons, lawns patterned with symbols of abundance and even fountains made of watermelons. Putin and Aliyev reportedly showed particular interest in the CIS emblem and a “Welcome” sign written in Russian and Tajik.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who arrived in Dushanbe the previous evening, did not join the stroll.