Moldova Formally Initiates CIS Withdrawal to Solidify European Integration Path

The Government of the Republic of Moldova has officially launched the legal mechanisms required to terminate its membership in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). This strategic move serves as a definitive step in the nation's accelerated trajectory toward European Union integration. On January 19, 2026, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mihai Popșoi formally announced the initiation of the denunciation process for three foundational pillars: the CIS Charter of January 22, 1993, the CIS Founding Agreement dated December 8, 1991, and the accompanying Protocol from December 22, 1991.

According to Popșoi, this legislative action is intended to provide a legal framework for Moldova's de facto withdrawal, as the country's participation has remained in a "frozen state" since 2023. The formal exit procedure requires the Moldovan Parliament to approve the denunciation documents, a milestone the Ministry of Foreign Affairs anticipates will be reached by mid-February 2026. However, under Article 9 of the CIS Charter, the full cessation of engagement only becomes effective 12 months after a formal written notification is submitted to the CIS Executive Committee.

Throughout its membership, the Republic of Moldova became a signatory to 283 separate agreements within the CIS framework. To date, approximately 71 of these documents have been denounced, while another 60 are currently undergoing a rigorous review process. Chișinău intends to maintain specific economic and functional agreements that provide tangible benefits to its citizens, provided they do not conflict with the country's overarching European development goals. This geopolitical shift is closely tied to Moldova's ambitious objective of concluding European Union accession negotiations by the beginning of 2028.

The decision to sever ties with the CIS has triggered a sharp response from Russian officials. Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, described Moldova's current socio-economic status as "catastrophic," highlighting the nation's heavy reliance on financial assistance from the European Union. Furthermore, Zakharova expressed significant concern regarding the expansion of military and political cooperation between Chișinău and Romania, a NATO member state, suggesting that such alliances undermine Moldova's constitutionally mandated neutrality.

Domestically, the move faces criticism from the internal opposition, led by Igor Dodon, the head of the Party of Socialists. Dodon has characterized the current political course as one dictated by "Western curators," drawing grim parallels to what he termed the "tragedy of Ukraine." Conversely, political analysts observe that the CIS has evolved from a platform for cooperation into a mechanism for Russian political pressure. While experts acknowledge that bilateral agreements still provide essential social protections for citizens, they also warn that abandoning the CIS could jeopardize Moldova's access to vital eastern logistical corridors.