EAEU Integration Talks: Armenia’s PM Nikol Pashinyan joined a narrow-format Eurasian Intergovernmental Council session in Cholpon-Ata, with Kyrgyz officials stressing faster, practical implementation of EAEU agreements to cut barriers for trade and goods. Kyrgyz-Russian Trade Surge: At the 8th Kyrgyz-Russian Economic Forum, Russia’s Deputy PM Alexey Overchuk said bilateral trade turnover hit about $2.5 billion in the first five months of 2026, up over 25%, while Kyrgyz exports to Russia rose 60%—with Russia’s share at roughly 27% of Kyrgyz foreign trade. Energy Security Push: Russian investment is backing Kyrgyzstan’s power balance, including a major solar plant nearing completion and a wind project in Issyk-Kul, alongside broader joint energy and infrastructure projects. Public Procurement Market Plan: Kyrgyz Finance Minister Ruslan Suynaliev met an EEC board member on competition and antimonopoly regulation to advance EAEU public procurement cooperation, including digitalization and mutual recognition of electronic signatures. Fuel Diversification: Kyrgyzstan is exploring monthly fuel purchases up to 20,000 tons from Uzbekistan as it seeks alternatives after reduced Russian supplies. Legal Update on Funerals: Kyrgyzstan officially banned cremation under a new burial and funeral law, removing all cremation-related provisions and limiting incineration only to sanitary destruction of medical tissues. Local Enforcement: Osh authorities found illegal construction of a small hydroelectric station in Kichi-Alai, issuing fines and ordering dismantling of improperly executed work.