Moldova Initiates Formal Withdrawal from the CIS

Moldova has begun the process of withdrawing from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). According to Moldpres, this was announced by Foreign Minister Mihai Popșoi during a broadcast on Radio Moldova. Popșoi said that the relevant documents will be reviewed at the start of the new parliamentary session. “We are already in the process of approving the denunciation of three CIS agreements. These are the agreements that form the basis of our membership in the CIS: the CIS Charter, signed in Minsk on January 22, 1993; the Agreement on the Establishment of the CIS dated December 8, 1991, also signed in Minsk; and the Addendum to this agreement dated December 22, 1991,” the Moldovan foreign minister stated. As a result, Popșoi said, Moldova will no longer be a member of the CIS. “The denunciation of these three foundational agreements that underpin our membership will allow us to state that, from a legal point of view, the Republic of Moldova is no longer a member. De facto, we suspended our participation some time ago, but legally we still remained there,” he added. According to him, Moldova made this decision recently, and the approval procedure is currently underway. “The denunciation documents will be submitted to parliament so that lawmakers can adopt the relevant decision. Most likely, by mid-February we will complete the procedures within the government, after which the decision will be adopted by parliament,” the official concluded. Popșoi also noted that this step clarifies Moldova’s legal status with regard to the CIS and represents an important milestone in strengthening the country’s European orientation.