Moldova’s Parliament approves step toward leaving CIS

Moldova’s parliamentary committee on foreign policy has approved advisory conclusions supporting the denunciation of the Agreement on the Establishment of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), its accompanying Protocol, and the CIS Charter.

The move was initiated by Moldova’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which noted that the “fundamental values and principles of the CIS are not being upheld,” according to an explanatory note from the ministry, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

The note described the withdrawal as a “natural and inevitable step toward achieving the goal of joining the European Union.”

Officials estimate that once parliament ratifies the denunciation, Moldova will save approximately 3.1 million Moldovan lei (around $185,000) annually—the amount previously allocated as contributions to the CIS budget.

Despite the formal withdrawal, Moldova plans to maintain relations with CIS member states through bilateral and multilateral platforms and will remain a participant in several CIS agreements, particularly in trade, economic, and social spheres.

In February 2023, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Nicu Popescu announced that Moldova would begin withdrawing from several dozen CIS agreements. Since 2024, Chișinău has already ceased contributions to the CIS and other organizations under the Commonwealth framework.

By Vafa Guliyeva