The current secretary general is former Kazakh Prime Minister Imangali Tasmagambetov, who took office on 1 January 2023.

Four countries have been represented, with five secretaries general hailing from Russia, one from Armenia, one from Belarus and one from Kazakhstan.

The position has also been occupied temporarily on two occasions by an acting secretary general between appointments.

The number of quota posts in the Secretariat is assigned to the CSTO member states in proportion to their contributions to the budget.

The appointment of officials to the quota positions of the Secretariat is carried out by the Secretary General on a rotational basis every three years on the proposal of the CSTO member states.