Diplomats who have served in Belarus say Lukashenko is the ultimate enigma. Certainly, using Russian money to keep his state-dominated economy alive. But too simplistically dismissed as a Russian lackey.

Azerbaijan exports to Turkey and Europe through the Southern Gas Corridor continue to make inroads into an energy market until now dominated by Russia.

The rate corridor was kept at plus or minus 1.0 percentage point. The rate on access operations to provide liquidity is set at 10 percent.

Uzbekistan and Russia signed an agreement on cooperation in the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes in 2017.

The agreement paves the way for initial stage financing of $800 million for the new gas chemical complex in Uzbekistan's Bukhara region.