The Ambassador of Russia to Turkmenistan Alexander Blokhin held in Ashgabat press-conference dedicated to the results of 2021.

The representatives of the diplomatic missions accredited in Ashgabat, and local and foreign journalists participated in the meeting.

The Russian plenipotentiary highly appreciated the results of current year in the history of relations between Turkmenistan and Russa. According to him, the Turkmen-Russian trade turnover for 10 months of this year amounted to $ 729 million excluding gas trade and increased by 8.1%.

Blokhin stated that volume oof gas, that Russia purchases this year in Turkmenistan, will be great enough.

«Compared to last year, it is likely to double. I think it will be about 10 billion cubic meters», – said diplomat.

He also reported that Russia supplied to Turkmenistan over 600 thousand doses of «Sputnik-V» vaccine and some quantity of «EpiVacCorona» vaccine.

«I spoke with the Minister of Health of Turkmenistan. He informed, and President of Turkmenistan also talked about it, that today about 80% of the population is vaccinated in the country. A very good figure. In Russia, about 60% of the population is vaccinated”, the Russian ambassador emphasized.

He also spoke about «Sputnik Light» vaccine, which was registered in Turkmenistan the day before. According to diplomat, it is planned to deliver 10 thousand doses of «Sputnik Light» vaccine to the country free of charge on the next flight. Blokhin added, that if this vaccine will be supplied to Turkmenistan, then most likely for revaccination.

The diplomat touched upon international issues. In particular, Blokhin commended Ashgabat's policy towards Afghanistan.

According to the plenipotentiary of RF, Turkmenistan has always pursued a very balanced policy towards Afghanistan, relying on its neutral status, and has provided assistance to the Afghan people, regardless of what kind of government was in the country.

«This approach is correct, because, first of all, the people suffer from all the problems, political and economic, that exist in Afghanistan. Therefore, what Turkmenistan is doing is necessary and useful for the Afghan people», – stressed Blokhin.

According to him, as regards approaches to Afghanistan, Russia and Turkmenistan have much in common.

«We also advocate stability in Afghanistan. We advocate providing humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people», – stated the Ambassador of RF to Turkmenistan.