CIS chief says Ukraine remains de jure member of Commonwealth

Ukraine formally remains a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) because it has not officially withdrawn from the organisation, according to CIS Secretary-General Sergey Lebedev.

Speaking to Vesti, Lebedev said that although Ukraine does not take part in CIS activities, it has not completed the legal procedure required to leave the bloc.

“Ukraine is a rather strange situation. Many say that Ukraine does not participate in the CIS. It did not leave the CIS; it is a member of the CIS, but does not participate in its activities. Formally, de jure, Ukraine is a CIS member,” he said.

Lebedev noted that Moldova, by contrast, has already initiated the process of withdrawal and submitted an official request to leave the organisation.

“Yes, Moldova has started the process [of leaving], Ukraine has not,” he said, adding that Ukraine is currently “busy with other matters.”

The Commonwealth of Independent States was formed in 1991 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union to facilitate cooperation between former Soviet republics.