Moldova moves to leave CIS, government cancels major deals
Photo: flag of Moldova (pixabay.com)
Moldova is officially starting the process of withdrawing from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) by denouncing key agreements that previously закреплювали the country’s participation in the organization, according to Radio Moldova.
Government decision
Moldova’s Foreign Minister Mihai Popșoi said the government has launched the process of denouncing the CIS’s foundational documents, which effectively means ending the republic’s membership in the organization.
The documents include the CIS Charter, signed on January 22, 1993, in Minsk; the Agreement on the Establishment of the CIS dated December 8, 1991; and its Supplement from December 22 of the same year.
Minister’s comment
“The Republic of Moldova will no longer be an official member of the CIS, and this process has already begun. We recently made this decision, the approval process has started, and at the beginning of the new parliamentary session, the documents on the denunciation of these agreements will be submitted to lawmakers,” Popșoi stressed.
Stages and timeline
The minister уточнив that the government is expected to complete the procedure by mid-February, after which the final decision will be considered by parliament.
According to Popșoi, Moldova has signed about 283 agreements within the CIS framework. Of these, 71 have already been denounced, while around 60 more are currently in the process of denunciation.
Practical significance
Most of the agreements, the minister said, are outdated and have no practical relevance. Many of them had previously been rejected by other CIS members without any consequences.
At the same time, Moldova reserves the right to keep agreements that bring economic benefits and do not contradict its course toward European integration.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Moldovan President Maia Sandu discussed their countries’ EU integration and opportunities to expand bilateral cooperation during a joint meeting.
Ukraine and Moldova have agreed on alternative routes to the southern Odesa region after Russian forces carried out several strikes on the bridge in Maiaky.
