Russian President Vladimir Putin hopes that Armenia will be able to hold sports events in Gyumri, which will become the sports capital of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in 2024. "Next year [these events], as planned, will be held in Gyumri, Armenia. I hope that, despite all the dramatic events that are currently taking place in the region, Armenia will be able to hold these events," said Putin, speaking at Friday’s meeting of the Council of CIS leaders, in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. As reported earlier, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is not attending this meeting.