Chisinau: Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mihai Popsoi announced that Moldova will officially cease to be a part of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) by April 8, 2027. The CIS is a post-Soviet regional bloc established following the Soviet Union's collapse.

According to Anadolu Agency, Popsoi revealed that after a government meeting, Moldova informed the CIS secretariat in Minsk about the decision to exit the organization. This follows Moldova's withdrawal from its founding treaties earlier this month. Popsoi stated that after a 12-month period, from a legal standpoint, Moldova will no longer be a member of the CIS by April 8 next year, in accordance with international law.

Popsoi noted that Moldova has not actively participated in the CIS for several years but will maintain involvement in certain economic agreements linked to the organization. He cited Georgia's experience, which withdrew from fundamental agreements but remained engaged in economic accords, as a similar approach Moldova plans to take.

Moldova suspended its participation in CIS meetings in 2022 and has gradually abandoned various CIS-related agreements since 2023. In January, Popsoi declared the start of Moldova's process to denounce key CIS agreements, with the Moldovan parliament approving the withdrawal from the founding treaties on April 2. Moldovan President Maia Sandu signed the law for Chisinau's withdrawal from the CIS on April 6.

The CIS was created in 1991 to foster cooperation in economic, political, and security matters among its members. The full members include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, while Turkmenistan holds associate membership.