Putin arrives at CIS gathering in Kazakhstan

The leaders of Commonwealth of Independent States countries, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, arrived at the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit in Astana.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan were also seen there on Friday.

The nations which comprise the bloc include Russia, Belarus and other countries of the former USSR.Putin was scheduled to take part in the first Russia-Central Asia summit later in the day.He was then expected to hold a news conference about this week's summits.