Russia backs environmental monitoring protocol for Caspian Sea

Russia supports a dedicated Caspian Sea monitoring protocol under the Tehran Convention, Vladimir Putin said on October 9 at the Caspian Environmental Summit in Turkmenistan.

The president said the document could organise information exchange not only on falling water levels but also on other environmental risks. He linked the proposal to a response mechanism and joint efforts to preserve the sea's ecosystem.

Putin called for use of existing international structures, including the Tehran Convention's Conference of the Parties. He reported an agreement to accelerate approval of an action plan addressing Caspian water-level fluctuations, covering the period through 2036.

The convention secretariat confirms that its seventh Conference of the Parties took place in Tehran on September 21–23, 2026. Putin's remarks concern support for drafting a protocol and agreeing a plan rather than a new document already in force.