Heads of state from almost all CIS countries will participate in the summit of the association on Friday in Astana, only Moldovan President Maia Sandu will be absent from the event due to a busy work schedule, said Kazakh Foreign Ministry spokesman Aibek Smadiyarov.

The press service of the president of Kazakhstan informed last Friday that the session of the CIS Council of the Heads of State presided by Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was planned on October 14th in Astana.

"For the first time in the post-pandemic period, heads of almost all CIS member states will take part in this important event in person. Thus, the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, as well as the chairman of the executive committee - the CIS executive secretary are expected to participate in the event," Smadiyarov said at a briefing on Monday.