CIS states may join BRICS in future - Russian Federation Council speaker

MOSCOW. July 10 (Interfax) - Members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) may join BRICS in the future, Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko said.

"I don't rule out that the CIS states may become BRICS members in the future," Matviyenko said in an interview with Rossiya-24 (VGTRK) television.

Many states are currently showing an interest in this association, she said.

"Look, 24 countries, if I'm not mistaken, are now in line to join BRICS," she said.

The parliament speakers of the CIS states will attend the BRICS parliamentary forum, which will be held in St. Petersburg in the coming days, as guests, Matviyenko said.

"The parliaments of the CIS states are our partners, associates, with whom we have very good friendly relations and working relations, and we would like them to join this format, too," she said.

It is planned to come up with criteria for the BRICS partner states and member states, she said.

"Time is needed to consider these criteria. And I think the final powerful chord of Russia's BRICS chairmanship will be a top-level summit, which will be held in Kazan, Tatarstan, in October. And the following criteria will probably be adopted at this summit: first, a partner country, and criteria for joining BRICS," Matviyenko said.

The process of joining this format will go very fast after that, she said.