Moldova dissolves CIS founding documents, cutting last formal ties with post-Soviet bloc

Moldova’s government has approved a decision to formally rescind its founding documents with the Commonwealth of Independent States.

The resolution, adopted at a cabinet session broadcast live on the government’s official website, calls for the annulment of three foundational instruments: the CIS Charter Agreement signed in Minsk on December 8, 1991; the accompanying protocol dated December 21, 1991; and the CIS Charter adopted, also in Minsk, on January 22, 1993.

EU membership is incompatible with CIS obligations

State Secretary Sergei Mikhov was unambiguous in laying out the rationale when he presented the documents to the cabinet.

“The EU accession process inevitably requires the Republic of Moldova to relinquish its CIS obligations that are incompatible with its status as an EU member state,” Mikhov told ministers.

Mikhov emphasized that relations with other member states of the Commonwealth would henceforth be conducted primarily through bilateral agreements. He also noted that Moldova intends to preserve certain CIS-era accords — particularly those governing trade, economic cooperation, and social affairs.

“These arrangements will remain in force for as long as they continue to deliver tangible benefits to Moldovan citizens and align with national interests,” Mikhov said.

The break that began with Sandu’s victory

Moldova’s posture toward the CIS began to shift fundamentally following Maia Sandu’s victory in the 2020 presidential election.

Having declared EU integration Moldova’s official state objective, Sandu withdrew from participation in CIS summits. In February 2023, the government unveiled a plan to withdraw from 120 of the 282 agreements signed under the CIS framework. According to figures released by the Foreign Ministry, Moldova has since exited 70 of those agreements.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova branded Chisinau’s conduct hypocritical. She pointed out that Moldovan officials had been publicly championing their departure from the Commonwealth while showing little urgency to relinquish the socioeconomic advantages that CIS membership conferred.

The CIS Founding Agreement and its associated protocol were signed in December 1991 by eleven former Soviet republics, including the Republic of Moldova. Their primary purpose was to formally register the dissolution of the USSR and establish the CIS as its successor framework. The foundational principles underpinning the Commonwealth were subsequently codified in the CIS Charter, ratified in 1993.

To date, Moldova has withdrawn from 71 of the 283 agreements concluded under the CIS umbrella, with approximately 60 further accords currently under review.

Foreign and European Integration Minister Nicu Popescu had announced in February 2023 that Moldova was initiating its withdrawal from dozens of CIS agreements.

Parliament delivered its final vote in May 2023 to exit the agreement establishing the Mir Interstate Television and Radio Company; in July of the same year, the Convention of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of CIS Member States was annulled. In January 2024, the government announced that officials had identified 119 CIS agreements that hold no value for the country. Chisinau also ceased paying membership dues to the CIS and affiliated organizations under its umbrella as of 2024.

According to data from Russia’s Ministry of Finance, Moldova’s state budget transferred approximately 35 million Moldovan lei — roughly $1.8 million — in membership fees to the CIS and associated civil society organizations between 2020 and 2023.