Moldova to Formally Finalize Withdrawal from the CIS

The Moldovan government intends to conclude the legal process for a full withdrawal from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Currently, the denunciation of key documents that have maintained the country’s membership in the CIS is in the final approval stage, according to Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mihai Popșoi.

According to Popșoi, the 1991 agreement establishing the CIS, its subsequent protocols, and the 1993 Charter of the Commonwealth are all slated for termination. These documents formed the legal foundation for Moldova's membership in the organization.

The Minister stated that this step will officially confirm Moldova's legal exit from the CIS.
"In practice, we have not participated in the organization's work for some time, but legally, our membership remained. Denunciation will fundamentally change this situation," he said during a broadcast on Radio Moldova.
Popșoi noted that the decision was recently made and the relevant procedures are already underway. The work at the government level is expected to be completed by mid-February, after which the matter will be submitted to Parliament for consideration.

However, certain agreements within the CIS framework that provide tangible benefits to citizens will remain in force for the time being. Nevertheless, within a short period, Moldova will officially lose its status as a member of the Commonwealth.
According to the Minister, Moldova has signed a total of 283 agreements within the CIS framework. To date, 71 have already been canceled, and the process of denouncing approximately 60 more documents is ongoing.

It should be noted that the Moldovan authorities accelerated the review of CIS-related agreements following the start of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine in February 2022. The country's leadership maintains that many of these documents are outdated and no longer applied in practice.