Moldova Initiates Withdrawal from the CIS, Targeting Key Agreements

Moldova Begins Formal Departure from the Commonwealth of Independent States

According to Главком: The Moldovan government has launched the process to leave the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) by approving the denunciation of three foundational treaties that underpin its membership. According to government spokesman Mihai Popsoi, the denunciation documents will be submitted to parliament for legislators to make a final decision, with the documents set for review at the start of the new parliamentary session. This move marks a significant shift in Moldova's post-Soviet foreign policy alignment.

The CIS was established based on an agreement signed in Minsk on December 8, 1991, along with a supplementary protocol signed on December 22, 1991. Its charter was formally approved on January 22, 1993. Moldova aims to complete the necessary governmental procedures by mid-February.

Regional Trends of Withdrawal

Moldova is not the first country to take such a step; Ukraine also withdrew from several CIS-related agreements in 2024. Furthermore, in May 2022, Ukraine's parliament passed a resolution to exit the agreement on the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly. These actions reflect a broader regional realignment away from Moscow-led institutions.

Mihai Popsoi noted that while Moldova had de facto suspended its participation in the CIS some time ago, it had remained a legal member of the organization until now.

Moldova's exit underscores a trend of diminishing CIS influence among nations seeking to strengthen their sovereignty and pursue integration with the European Union. This decision highlights the wider geopolitical shifts in Eastern Europe, where countries like Ukraine and Moldova are actively seeking development paths distinct from the post-Soviet sphere. The international community will be watching the reactions of other CIS members closely.