Commonwealth of Independent States#General Secretary

{{main|History of Russia|Russian Empire|Russian Republic|Soviet Union|History of the Soviet Union{{!}}its history}}

File:RIAN archive 848095 Signing the Agreement to eliminate the USSR and establish the Commonwealth of Independent States.jpg, 8 December 1991]]

The CIS as a shared Russophone social, cultural, and economic space has its origins in the Russian Empire, which was replaced in 1917 by the Russian Republic after the February Revolution earlier that year. Following the October Revolution, the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic became the leading republic in the Soviet Union (USSR) upon its creation with the 1922 Treaty and Declaration of the Creation of the USSR along with Byelorussian SSR, Ukrainian SSR and Transcaucasian SFSR.

In March 1991, amidst Perestroika and a rising political crisis in the country, Mikhail Gorbachev, the president of the Soviet Union, proposed a federation by holding a referendum to preserve the Union as a union of sovereign republics. The new treaty signing never happened as the Communist Party hardliners staged an attempted coup in Moscow in August that year.

File:Agreement on the Creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States dated 8 December 1991 - information from the depository.png

File:Protocol to the Agreement on the Creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States dated 21 December 1991 - information from the depository.png

Following the events of the failed 1991 coup, many republics of the USSR declared their independence fearing another coup. A week after the Ukrainian independence referendum was held, which kept the chances of the Soviet Union staying together low, the Commonwealth of Independent States was founded in its place on 8 December 1991 by the Byelorussian SSR, the Russian SFSR, and the Ukrainian SSR, when the leaders of the three republics met at the Belovezhskaya Pushcha Natural Reserve,{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-38416657 |title=How three men signed the USSR's death warrant |first=Dina |last=Newman |date=24 December 2016 |website=BBCNews |access-date=7 December 2022 |archive-date=7 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207050820/https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-38416657 |url-status=live }} about {{convert|50|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of Brest in Belarus, and signed the "Agreement Establishing the Commonwealth of Independent States", known as the Belovezh Accords ({{langx|ru|Беловежские соглашения|translit=Belovezhskiye soglasheniya}}).

The CIS announced that the new organization would be open to all republics of the former Soviet Union and to other nations sharing the same goals. The CIS charter stated that all the members were sovereign and independent nations and thereby effectively abolished the Soviet Union. On 21 December 1991, the leaders of eight additional former Soviet Republics (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) signed the Alma-Ata Protocol which can either be interpreted as expanding the CIS to these states or the proper foundation or foundation date of the CIS,Plokhy, Serhii, The Last Empire: The final days of the Soviet Union, Oneworld, London (2014), {{ISBN|9781780746463}}, pp 356 – 365 thus bringing the number of participating countries to 11.[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/belarus/by_appnc.html Alma-Ata Declaration] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20121213075812/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/belarus/by_appnc.html|date=13 December 2012}}: 11 countries accede to the CIS, 21 December 1991 (English translation). Russian text here [https://web.archive.org/web/20060103164158/http://www.cis.minsk.by/main.aspx?uid=178] Georgia joined two years later, in December 1993.[http://cis.minsk.by/sm.aspx?uid=11368 Ratification status of CIS documents as of 15 January 2008] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030122332/http://cis.minsk.by/sm.aspx?uid=11368|date=30 October 2008}} (Russian) At this point, 12 of the 15 former Soviet Republics participated in the CIS, the three non-participants being the Baltic states, which were occupied by the Soviet Union. The CIS and Soviet Union also legally co-existed briefly with each other until 26 December 1991, when the Soviet of the Republics formally dissolved the Soviet Union. This was followed by Ivan Korotchenya becoming Executive Secretary of the CIS on the same day.{{usurped|[http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20060720175013/http://www.therussiasite.org/legal/laws/CISagreement.html Agreement on the Establishment of the CIS]}}: 3 founding countries, 8 December 1991 (unofficial English translation). Russian text here [https://web.archive.org/web/20060721024111/http://cis.minsk.by/main.aspx?uid=176]

After the end of the dissolution process of the Soviet Union, Russia and the Central Asian republics were weakened economically and faced declines in GDP. Post-Soviet states underwent economic reforms and privatisation.{{cite web |title=Russian Federation |url=http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/7/50/2452793.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226203432/http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/7/50/2452793.pdf |archive-date=26 February 2008 |access-date=7 July 2014 |publisher=Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)}}{{cite web |title=Russia Economic Conditions in Mid-1996 |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+ru0119) |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726090900/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd%2Fcstdy%3A%40field%28DOCID+ru0119%29 |archive-date=26 July 2013 |access-date=7 July 2014 |publisher=Library of Congress}} The process of Eurasian integration began immediately after the break-up of the Soviet Union to salvage economic ties with Post-Soviet republics.{{cite web |title=Eurasian economic integration: figures and facts |url=http://www.eurasiancommission.org/en/Documents/broshura26_ENGL_2014.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714183140/http://www.eurasiancommission.org/en/Documents/broshura26_ENGL_2014.pdf |archive-date=14 July 2014 |access-date=7 July 2014}}

File:CIS Summit 20-22 June 2000-1.jpg

On 22 January 1993, the Charter (Statutes) of the CIS was signed, setting up the different institutions of the CIS, their functions, and the rules and statutes of the CIS. The Charter also defined that all countries that have ratified the Agreement on the Establishment of the CIS and its relevant (Alma-Ata) Protocol would be considered to be founding states of the CIS, with only those countries ratifying the Charter being considered to be member states of the CIS (art. 7). Other states can participate as associate members or observers if accepted as such by a decision of the Council of Heads of State to the CIS (art. 8).

All the founding states apart from Ukraine and Turkmenistan ratified the Charter of the CIS and became member states of it. Nevertheless, Ukraine and Turkmenistan kept participating in the CIS, without being member states of it. Turkmenistan became an associate member of the CIS in August 2005. Georgia left the CIS altogether in 2009 and Ukraine stopped participating in 2018.

{{Main|General Secretary of the CIS}}

The work of CIS is coordinated by the general secretary.

The Interparliamentary Assembly was established on 27 March 1992 in Kazakhstan. On 26 May 1995, the CIS leaders signed the Convention on the Interparliamentary Assembly of Member Nations of the Commonwealth of Independent States eventually ratified by nine parliaments, the only CIS member not signing was Georgia. Under the terms of the convention, the InterParliamentary Assembly (IPA) was invested with international legitimacy.

It is housed in the Tauride Palace in St Petersburg and acts as the consultative parliamentary wing of the CIS, created to discuss problems of parliamentary cooperation, review draft documents of common interest, and pass model laws to the national legislatures in the CIS (as well as recommendations) for their use in the preparation of new laws and amendments to existing legislation. More than 130 documents have been adopted that ensure the convergence of laws in the CIS at the level of national legislation. The Assembly is actively involved in the development of integration processes in the CIS and also sends observers to the national elections.{{cite web |author=Information and Publish. Department |title=CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly |url=http://www.cisstat.com/eng/c3.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508224227/http://www.cisstat.com/eng/c3.htm |archive-date=8 May 2013 |access-date=23 July 2013 |publisher=Cisstat.com}} The Assembly held its 32nd Plenary meeting in Saint Petersburg on 14 May 2009.

Between 2003 and 2005, three CIS member states experienced a change of government in a series of colour revolutions: Eduard Shevardnadze was overthrown in Georgia; Viktor Yushchenko was elected in Ukraine; and Askar Akayev was toppled in Kyrgyzstan.

In February 2006, Georgia withdrew from the Council of Defense Ministers, with the statement that "Georgia has taken a course to join NATO and it cannot be part of two military structures simultaneously",{{cite web |url=http://english.pravda.ru/news/world/03-02-2006/75406-georgia-0 |title=Georgia opts out of ex-Soviet military cooperation body |publisher=Pravda.Ru |date=11 September 2001 |access-date=23 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309184319/http://english.pravda.ru/news/world/03-02-2006/75406-georgia-0/ |archive-date=9 March 2014 |url-status=live }} but it remained a full member of the CIS until August 2009, one year after officially withdrawing in the immediate aftermath of the Russo-Georgian War.

In March 2007, Igor Ivanov, the secretary of the Russian Security Council, expressed his doubts concerning the usefulness of the CIS, emphasizing that the Eurasian Economic Community was becoming a more competent organization to unify the largest countries of the CIS.[http://www.infoniac.com/news/russia-nato.html Russia questions further existence of the CIS post-soviet organisation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070323232638/http://www.infoniac.com/news/russia-nato.html |date=23 March 2007 }} InfoNIAC Following the withdrawal of Georgia, the presidents of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan skipped the October 2009 meeting of the CIS, each having their own issues and disagreements with the Russian Federation.{{cite news |last=Pannier |first=Bruce |url=http://www.rferl.org/content/Russia_Facing_Resistance_With_Allies_On_CISs_Southern_Flank/1847880.html |title=Russia Facing Resistance With Allies On CIS's Southern Flank |newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date=9 October 2009 |publisher=Rferl.org |access-date=23 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509223547/http://www.rferl.org/content/Russia_Facing_Resistance_With_Allies_On_CISs_Southern_Flank/1847880.html |archive-date=9 May 2013 |url-status=live }}

In May 2009, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine joined the Eastern Partnership (EaP), a project that was initiated by the European Union (EU). The EaP framework governs the EU's relationship with the post-Soviet states of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine.{{Cite web|url=https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage_en/419/Eastern%20Partnership|title=Eastern Partnership – EEAS – European External Action Service – European Commission|website=EEAS – European External Action Service|language=en|access-date=2018-12-10}} Content is copied from this source, which is (c) European Union, 1995–2018. Reuse is authorised, provided the source is acknowledged.

File:Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) - Содружество Независимых Государств (СНГ).png

There are nine full member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

The Creation Agreement remained the main constituent document of the CIS until January 1993, when the CIS Charter ({{langx|ru|Устав|Ustav}}) was adopted.[http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20060720174729/http://www.therussiasite.org/legal/laws/CIScharter.html CIS Charter], 22 January 1993 (unofficial English translation). [https://web.archive.org/web/20060723002729/http://cis.minsk.by/main.aspx?uid=180 Russian text here] The charter formalized the concept of membership: a member country is defined as a country that ratifies the CIS Charter (sec. 2, art. 7). Additional members can join with the consent of all current members. Parties that ratified the Creation Agreement before the adoption of the Charter are considered to be "Founding states", but not members.

In light of Russia's support for the independence of occupied regions within Moldova, Georgia, and Ukraine{{cite news |last=Buckley |first=Neil |date=25 November 2014 |title=Georgia calls on west to condemn Abkhazia treaty with Russia |newspaper=Financial Times |url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/0898a824-74a6-11e4-b30b-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3ZeRLwHMN |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=9 May 2015 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210211228/https://www.ft.com/content/0898a824-74a6-11e4-b30b-00144feabdc0#axzz3ZeRLwHMN |archive-date=10 December 2022}}{{cite web |last=Rettman |first=Andrew |date=7 May 2015 |title=Donbas: A new 'black hole' in Europe |url=https://euobserver.com/foreign/128618 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518091557/https://euobserver.com/foreign/128618 |archive-date=18 May 2015 |access-date=9 May 2015}}{{cite web |date=26 April 2015 |title=Russia Erecting Monument to 'Little Green Men' Who Took Over Crimea |url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/russia-erecting-monument-to-little-green-men-who-took-over-crimea/519768.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150428215115/http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/russia-erecting-monument-to-little-green-men-who-took-over-crimea/519768.html |archive-date=28 April 2015 |access-date=9 May 2015 |newspaper=Moscow Times}} as well as its violation of the Istanbul Agreement (see Adapted Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty), legislative initiatives to denounce the agreement on the creation of CIS were tabled in Moldova's parliament on 25 March 2014, though they were not approved.[http://www.ukrinform.ua/rus/news/v_moldove_predlagayut_denonsirovat_soglashenie_o_sozdanii_sng_1616922 In Moldova propose to denounce the agreement on creation of CIS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705200406/http://www.ukrinform.ua/rus/news/v_moldove_predlagayut_denonsirovat_soglashenie_o_sozdanii_sng_1616922|date=5 July 2015}}. Ukrinform. 25 March 2014{{cite web |title=Proiectul hotărîrii cu privire la denunțarea Acordului de constituire a Comunității Statelor Independente |url=http://www.parlament.md/ProcesulLegislativ/Proiectedeactelegislative/tabid/61/LegislativId/2227/language/ro-RO/Default.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105013227/http://www.parlament.md/ProcesulLegislativ/Proiectedeactelegislative/tabid/61/LegislativId/2227/language/ro-RO/Default.aspx |archive-date=5 November 2014 |access-date=4 November 2014 |publisher=Parliament of the Republic of Moldova}}{{cite web |title=Proiectul legii cu privire la denunțarea Acordului de constituire a Comunității Statelor Independente nr.40-XII din 08.04.1994 |url=http://www.parlament.md/ProcesulLegislativ/Proiectedeactelegislative/tabid/61/LegislativId/2230/language/ro-RO/Default.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105013231/http://www.parlament.md/ProcesulLegislativ/Proiectedeactelegislative/tabid/61/LegislativId/2230/language/ro-RO/Default.aspx |archive-date=5 November 2014 |access-date=4 November 2014 |publisher=Parliament of the Republic of Moldova}} A similar bill was proposed in January 2018.{{cite web |date=2 January 2018 |title=Proiectul hotărîrii cu privire la denunțarea Acordului de constituire a Comunității Statelor Independente |url=http://www.parlament.md/ProcesulLegislativ/Proiectedeactelegislative/tabid/61/LegislativId/4050/language/ro-RO/Default.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180131023316/http://www.parlament.md/ProcesulLegislativ/Proiectedeactelegislative/tabid/61/LegislativId/4050/language/ro-RO/Default.aspx |archive-date=31 January 2018 |access-date=29 January 2018 |publisher=Parliament of the Republic of Moldova}}{{cite web |date=25 January 2018 |title=Moldova Says It Would Leave CIS Only After Becoming EU Candidate |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/moldova-eu-candidate-cis-leanca/28998630.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129174041/https://www.rferl.org/a/moldova-eu-candidate-cis-leanca/28998630.html |archive-date=29 January 2018 |access-date=29 January 2018 |publisher=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty}}

On 14 June 2022, Moldovan Minister of Foreign Affairs Nicu Popescu said the Moldovan government was considering the prospect of leaving the CIS, although at the end of May President Maia Sandu had said the country would not leave for the time being.{{cite web |title=Moldova looking into quitting CIS amid Russia-Ukraine war – foreign min |url=https://seenews.com/news/moldova-looking-into-quitting-cis-amid-russia-ukraine-war-foreign-min-788184 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614162511/https://seenews.com/news/moldova-looking-into-quitting-cis-amid-russia-ukraine-war-foreign-min-788184 |archive-date=14 June 2022 |access-date=18 June 2022 |website=seenews.com|date=14 June 2022 }} An August 2021 poll conducted in Moldova (prior to the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine) found that 48.1% of respondents supported Moldova's withdrawal from the CIS.{{cite web |date=2021-08-02 |title=Poll: Over 70% Moldovans favor EU membership |url=https://www.kyivpost.com/world/poll-over-70-moldovans-favor-eu-membership.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804101706/https://www.kyivpost.com/world/poll-over-70-moldovans-favor-eu-membership.html |archive-date=4 August 2021 |access-date=2022-06-19 |publisher=Kyiv Post}}

On 30 November 2022, Popescu stated that Moldova will suspend its participation in CIS meetings,{{cite web |title=Ministrul de Externe: Republica Moldova și-a SUSPENDAT participarea la reuniunile periodice ale CSI |date=30 November 2022 |url=https://n4.md/ministrul-de-externe-republica-moldova-si-a-suspendat-participarea-la-reuniunile-periodice-ale-csi/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130105528/https://n4.md/ministrul-de-externe-republica-moldova-si-a-suspendat-participarea-la-reuniunile-periodice-ale-csi/ |archive-date=30 November 2022 |access-date=30 November 2022}} and on 23 February 2023 stated that Moldova has started withdrawing from multiple treaties that the country had signed with the CIS, as his country aims to join the European Union.{{Cite web |title=Молдова виходить із десятків договорів у рамках СНД |url=https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-world/3673897-moldova-vihodit-iz-desatkiv-dogovoriv-u-ramkah-snd.html |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=www.ukrinform.ua |date=23 February 2023 |language=uk}} On 15 May 2023, the President of the Parliament of Moldova, Igor Grosu, stated the country will withdraw from the agreement establishing the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly; he argued that being in the CIS "did not protect the Republic of Moldova from energy blackmail in the middle of winter, from threats and official statements hostile to the independence and sovereignty of the Republic of Moldova".{{cite web |last1=Fetco |first1=Verônica |title=R. Moldova a inițiat procedura de retragere din Adunarea Interparlamentară a CSI, anunță președintele Parlamentului |url=https://www.zdg.md/stiri/politic/ultima-ora-r-moldova-a-initiat-procedura-de-retragere-din-adunarea-interparlamentara-a-csi-anunta-presedintele-parlamentului/ |website=Ziarul de Gardă |access-date=15 May 2023 |language=ro |date=15 May 2023}}

As part of the process to severing connections with the CIS, in July 2023 Moldova passed a law on denunciation of the agreement on Moldova's membership in the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the CIS countries.{{cite web |title=Parliament Adopts in Final Reading Law on Moldova's Withdrawal from Cis Interparliamentary Assembly |url=https://www.infotag.md/politics-en/309245/ |date=20 July 2023}} 70 agreements were denounced by October 2023, from the total of around 282 signed by Moldova.{{cite web |title=Moldovan Authorities Denounce Another Seven CIS Agreements |url=https://regtrends.com/en/2023/11/22/moldovan-authorities-denounce-another-seven-cis-agreements/ |date=22 November 2023}}

In December 2023, Moldova announced its intention to withdraw from the CIS entirely by the end of 2024.{{cite web | url=https://www.ankasam.org/moldova-onumuzdeki-yilin-sonunda-bdtden-ayrilacak/ | title=Moldova, önümüzdeki yılın sonunda BDT'den ayrılacak | date=21 December 2023 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.kyivpost.com/post/25790 | title=Moldova Plans to Fully Withdraw from Moscow-led Bloc by 2024 | date=21 December 2023 }} It was later stated that Moldova would pull out of everything except for economic, social protection, and healthcare agreements.

A 22–27 May 2024 poll showed that 40.5% of Moldovans were in favor of leaving the CIS and 35.5% were against,{{cite news|url=https://radiochisinau.md/sondaj-procentul-cetatenilor-republicii-moldova-care-iti-doresc-aderarea-la-ue-se-apropie-de-60prc-creste-numarul-celor-care-doresc-iesirea-r-moldova-din-csi---197089.html|title=SONDAJ {{!}} Procentul cetățenilor Republicii Moldova care doresc aderarea la UE este de aproape 60%. Crește numărul celor care vor ieșirea R. Moldova din CSI|publisher=Radio Chișinău|date=29 May 2024|language=ro}} with 41.9% in favor and 32% against in a 16–28 April 2025 poll.{{cite news|url=https://stiri.md/article/social/sondaj-majoritatea-cetatenilor-sunt-pentru-integrarea-moldovei-in-ue-3/|title=Sondaj: Majoritatea cetățenilor sunt pentru integrarea Moldovei în UE|newspaper=Știri.md|date=30 April 2025|language=ro}}

A country can become an associate member under the CIS Charter (sec. 2, art. 8) if approved by the Council of Heads of States. Participation of associate members and of the observers in the work of the Commonwealth organs shall be governed by their rules of procedures.

Two states, Ukraine and Turkmenistan ratified the CIS Creation Agreement before the adoption of the CIS Charter in January 1993, making them "founding states of the CIS", but did not ratify the Charter itself that would make them full members. These states, while not being formal members of the CIS, were allowed to participate in CIS.{{cite web |title=Ukraine's withdrawal from CIS to take one year – Vestnik Kavkaza |url=http://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/Ukraine-s-withdrawal-from-CIS-to-take-one-year.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813004418/http://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/Ukraine-s-withdrawal-from-CIS-to-take-one-year.html |archive-date=13 August 2018 |access-date=12 August 2018 |website=vestnikkavkaza.net}} They were also allowed to participate in various CIS initiatives, e.g. the Free Trade Area,{{cite web |title=Free Trade Agreement Between Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic |url=http://www.worldtradelaw.net/document.php?id=fta/agreements/cisfta.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330113646/http://www.worldtradelaw.net/document.php?id=fta%2Fagreements%2Fcisfta.pdf |archive-date=30 March 2019 |access-date=21 July 2018}} which were, however, formulated mostly as independent multilateral agreements, and not as internal CIS agreements.

Turkmenistan has not ratified the Charter and therefore is not formally a member of the CIS. Nevertheless, it has consistently participated in the CIS as if it were a member state.

Turkmenistan changed its CIS standing to associate member as of 26 August 2005. The cited reason was to be consistent with its 1995-proclaimed, UN-recognised, international neutrality status, but experts have cited the country no longer needing Russia to provide natural gas access, as well as the country's declining faith in the confederation's ability to maintain internal stability in light of the Colour Revolutions.[http://www.cis.minsk.by/main.aspx?uid=4018 Decision on Turkmenistan's associate membership]{{dead link|date=August 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}, CIS Executive Committee meeting in Kazan, Russia, 26 August 2005 {{in lang|ru}}.[http://www.rferl.org/content/article/1061002.html Turkmenistan reduces CIS ties to "Associate Member"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211095248/http://www.rferl.org/content/Article/1061002.html|date=11 December 2008}}, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 29 August 2005.

The Verkhovna Rada never ratified the agreement on membership of the CIS in accordance with the CIS Charter so Ukraine never became a member.{{cite web |title=Історія членства України в Співдружності Незалежних Держав |url=https://minjust.gov.ua/m/str_55 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709001840/https://minjust.gov.ua/m/str_55 |archive-date=9 July 2022 |access-date=2022-07-09 |website=minjust.gov.ua |language=ru}}

Ukraine did not apply to become an Associate member, nor was it granted by the Council of Heads of States, accordingly Ukraine remained just a Founding state.

Ukraine did participate in the CIS and became an associate member of the CIS Economic Union in 1994,{{cite book |last1=d'Anieri |first1=Paul J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0IMaWuaYRnQC&q=associate |title=Economic Interdependence in Ukrainian-Russian Relations |date=July 1999 |publisher=SUNY Press |isbn=9780791442463 |access-date=25 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527235646/https://books.google.de/books?id=0IMaWuaYRnQC&q=associate#v=snippet&q=associate&f=false |archive-date=27 May 2023 |url-status=live}} and signed the Commonwealth of Independent States Free Trade Area in 2011.

Ukraine withdrew its representatives from the CIS in May 2018 and stopped actively participating in the CIS. However, the country remained a party to a number of agreements, such as the free trade area.

File:CIS Summit 20-22 June 2000-5.jpg

Although Ukraine was one of the states which ratified the Creation Agreement in December 1991, making it a Founding State of the CIS, it chose not to ratify the CIS Charter{{cite book |last1=Sussex |first1=Matthew |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O-v2Uhprr7cC&q=Ukraine+did+not+choose+to+ratify+the+CIS+Charter&pg=PA44 |title=Conflict in the Former USSR |date=4 October 2012 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=9780521763103 |access-date=25 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124214119/https://books.google.com/books?id=O-v2Uhprr7cC&pg=PA44 |archive-date=24 January 2023 |url-status=live}}{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=to6U__f00b8C&pg=PA16 |title=Russia and Nis Mineral Industry Handbook |date=7 February 2007 |publisher=International Business Publications, USA |isbn=9781433041181 |access-date=25 September 2014}}{{Dead link|date=January 2023|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}} as it disagrees with Russia being the only legal successor state to the Soviet Union. Thus it has never been a full member of the CIS.[http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-268085.html September 2008 Statement by Foreign Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Ohryzko] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928112112/http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-268085.html|date=28 September 2008}}, "Ukraine does not recognize the legal personality of this organization, we are not members of the CIS Economic Court, we did not ratify the CIS Statute, thus, we cannot be considered a member of this organisation from an international legal point of view. Ukraine is a country-participant, but not a member country." However, Ukraine had kept participating in the CIS, with the consent of the Council of Heads of States, even though it was not a member. Ukraine has never applied for, or been granted, Associate member status.

Following the start of the Russo-Ukrainian war in February 2014, relations between Ukraine and Russia deteriorated, leading Ukraine to consider ending its participation in the CIS. As Ukraine never ratified the Charter, it could cease its informal participation in the CIS. However, to fully terminate its relationship with the CIS, it would need to legally withdraw from the Creation Agreement, as Georgia did previously. On 14 March 2014, a bill was introduced to Ukraine's parliament to denounce their ratification of the CIS Creation Agreement, but it was never approved.{{cite web |date=15 March 2014 |title=Bill introduced to withdraw Ukraine from CIS |url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/politics/bill-introduced-to-withdraw-ukraine-from-cis-339433.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327052438/http://www.kyivpost.com/content/politics/bill-introduced-to-withdraw-ukraine-from-cis-339433.html |archive-date=27 March 2014 |access-date=27 March 2014 |newspaper=Kyiv Post}}{{cite web |title=Результати пошуку законопроектiв, зареєстрованих Верховною Радою України |url=http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb2/webproc2_5_1_J?ses=10008&num_s=2&num=0074&date1=&date2=&name_zp=&out_type=&id= |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304191524/http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb2/webproc2_5_1_J?ses=10008&num_s=2&num=0074&date1=&date2=&name_zp=&out_type=&id= |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=25 September 2014}}{{cite web |date=27 May 2014 |title=Draft documents on Ukraine's withdrawal from CIS submitted to Verkhovna Rada |url=http://en.itar-tass.com/world/733566 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714232744/http://en.itar-tass.com/world/733566 |archive-date=14 July 2014 |access-date=21 June 2014 |publisher=Information Telegraph Agency of Russia}} Following the 2014 parliamentary election, a new bill to denounce the CIS agreement was introduced.{{cite web |title=Проект Постанови про припинення членства та участі України в органах Співдружності Незалежних Держав |url=http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb2/webproc4_1?pf3511=52424 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211134742/http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb2/webproc4_1?pf3511=52424 |archive-date=11 December 2014 |access-date=30 November 2014 |publisher=Verkhovna Rada}}{{cite web |title=Проект Закону про зупинення дії Угоди про створення Співдружності Незалежних Держав |url=http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb2/webproc4_1?pf3511=52644 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150429230846/http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/zweb2/webproc4_1?pf3511=52644 |archive-date=29 April 2015 |access-date=26 December 2014 |publisher=Verkhovna Rada}} In September 2015, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Ukraine will continue taking part in the CIS "on a selective basis".[http://m.eng.belta.by/politics/view/ukraine-to-selectively-work-as-part-of-cis-25-2015 Ukraine to selectively work as part of CIS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128035608/http://m.eng.belta.by/politics/view/ukraine-to-selectively-work-as-part-of-cis-25-2015|date=28 January 2016}}, BelTA (21 September 2015)[http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/yatsenyuk-says-ukraine-will-drop-commonwealth-of-independent-states-criminal-search-database-system-on-aug-24-396167.html Yatsenyuk says Ukraine will drop Commonwealth of Independent States criminal search database system on Aug 24] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918183557/http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/yatsenyuk-says-ukraine-will-drop-commonwealth-of-independent-states-criminal-search-database-system-on-aug-24-396167.html|date=18 September 2015}}, Kyiv Post (20 August 2015) Since that month, Ukraine has had no representatives in the CIS Executive Committee building.

In April 2018, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko indicated that Ukraine would formally leave the CIS.{{cite web |title=Ukraine to officially quit CIS – Poroshenko |url=https://www.unian.info/politics/10078742-ukraine-to-officially-quit-cis-poroshenko.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413124653/https://www.unian.info/politics/10078742-ukraine-to-officially-quit-cis-poroshenko.html |archive-date=13 April 2018 |access-date=12 April 2018 |publisher=UNIAN}} On 19 May 2018, Poroshenko signed a decree formally ending Ukraine's participation in CIS statutory bodies.{{Cite news |title=Poroshenko signs decree on final termination of Ukraine's participation in CIS statutory bodies |language=en |url=https://www.unian.info/m/politics/10123172-poroshenko-signs-decree-on-final-termination-of-ukraine-s-participation-in-cis-statutory-bodies.html |url-status=live |access-date=19 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124214148/https://gum.criteo.com/syncframe?origin=publishertag&topUrl=www.unian.info&gdpr=0&gdpr_consent= |archive-date=24 January 2023}}

As of 1 June 2018, the CIS secretariat had not received formal notice from Ukraine of its withdrawal from the CIS, a process that would take one year to complete, following notice being given. The CIS secretariat stated that it will continue inviting Ukraine to participate.{{cite web |date=1 June 2018 |title=CIS Executive Secretary hopes Ukraine will remain member nation of the CIS |url=https://news.tj/ru/node/255314 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721221817/https://news.tj/ru/node/255314 |archive-date=21 July 2018 |access-date=21 July 2018}}{{cite web |date=2 June 2018 |title=Kyrgyz envoy: CIS to consider Ukraine's withdrawal as soon as Kyiv files official application |url=https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/kyrgyz-envoy-cis-to-consider-ukraines-withdrawal-as-soon-as-kyiv-files-official-application.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109030041/https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/kyrgyz-envoy-cis-to-consider-ukraines-withdrawal-as-soon-as-kyiv-files-official-application.html |archive-date=9 November 2020 |access-date=21 July 2018 |publisher=Interfax-Ukraine}}{{cite web |date=11 October 2018 |title=Executive Committee Chairman: CIS states interested in keeping Ukraine as member |url=https://azertag.az/en/xeber/Executive_Committee_Chairman_CIS_states_interested_in_keeping_Ukraine_as_member-1203265 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419181054/https://azertag.az/en/xeber/Executive_Committee_Chairman_CIS_states_interested_in_keeping_Ukraine_as_member-1203265 |archive-date=19 April 2019 |access-date=8 December 2018}} Ukraine has stated that it intends to review its participation in all CIS agreements and only continue in those that are in its interests. On 3 May 2023 Ukraine formally withdrew from the 1992 agreement that set up the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly.{{cite web |title=Ukraine's parliament withdraws from agreement on CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly |url=https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/3704140-ukraines-parliament-withdraws-from-agreement-on-cis-interparliamentary-assembly.html |date=3 May 2023}} In 2023 and 2024 Ukraine also withdrew from a number of agreements including the 2001 Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) agreement on cooperation in the provision of safety of hazardous industrial facilities, the 1996 CIS agreement on cooperation in evacuating nationals from third countries in emergencies, the 1992 Agreement between the State Parties of the Commonwealth of Independent States on social and legal guarantees of the military personnel, persons discharged from military service, and members of their families, the 1992 Agreement on the Establishment of the Council of Commanders of the Border Troops and the Agreement on the Creation of the Interstate System of Documentary Encrypted Communications of the Commonwealth of Independent States.{{cite web |title=Ukraine continues to denounce CIS agreements |url=https://interfax.com/newsroom/top-stories/97575/ |date=13 December 2023}}{{cite web |title=Ukraine pulls out of CIS deal on cooperation between border troops chiefs |url=https://en.lb.ua/news/2024/01/02/25432_ukraine_pulls_out_cis_deal.html |date=2 January 2024}}

Following the overthrow of Eduard Shevardnadze in Georgia, Georgia officially withdrew from the Council of Defense Ministers in February 2006,{{Cite web|url=https://english.pravda.ru/news/world/75406-georgia/|title=Georgia opts out of ex-Soviet military cooperation body|first=Editorial|last=Team|date=3 February 2006|website=PravdaReport}} stating that "Georgia has taken a course to join NATO and it cannot be part of two military structures simultaneously". However, it remained a full member of the CIS.

In the aftermath of the Russo-Georgian War in 2008, President Saakashvili announced during a public speech in the capital city Tbilisi that Georgia would leave the CIS[http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/08/12/georgia.russia.out/index.html Georgia intends to leave the CIS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080813021111/http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/08/12/georgia.russia.out/index.html|date=2008-08-13}} on CNN.com, 12 August 2008. and the Georgian Parliament voted unanimously on 14 August 2008 to withdraw from the regional organization.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7560100.stm Georgian parliament votes to withdraw from CIS] on BBC News, 14 August 2008 On 18 August 2008 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia sent a note to the CIS Executive Committee notifying it of the aforesaid resolutions of the Parliament of Georgia and Georgia's withdrawal from CIS.[http://www.mfa.gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=36&info_id=7526 Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia on Georgia's withdrawal from CIS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080903225356/http://www.mfa.gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=36&info_id=7526|date=2008-09-03}}, 18 August 2008. In accordance with the CIS Charter (sec. 1, art. 9),{{usurped|1=[http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20060720174729/http://www.therussiasite.org/legal/laws/CIScharter.html CIS Charter]}}, 22 January 1993 (unofficial English translation). [http://www.cis.minsk.by/main.aspx?uid=180 Russian text here] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207080225/http://www.cis.minsk.by/main.aspx?uid=180|date=2009-02-07}} Georgia's withdrawal came into effect 12 months later, on 18 August 2009.[http://www.mid.ru/brp_4.nsf/e78a48070f128a7b43256999005bcbb3/f8239318a64b3edac32574de00287b06?OpenDocument Georgia's CIS membership terminates in August 2009], press conference of the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov after the meeting of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers, Bishkek, 9 October 2008[https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/world/europe/19briefs-Georgia.html "Georgia Withdraws from Bloc", by Ellen Barry, New York Times, 18 August 2009. Retrieved on 22 August 2009.]

File:CIS meeting 2008.jpg, 2008]]

Since its inception, one of the primary goals of the CIS has been to provide a forum for discussing issues related to the social and economic development of the newly independent states. To achieve this goal member states have agreed to promote and protect human rights. Initially, efforts to achieve this goal consisted merely of statements of goodwill, but on 26 May 1995, the CIS adopted a Commonwealth of Independent States Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.{{cite web|url=http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/type,MULTILATERALTREATY,CIS,RUS,49997ae32c,0.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130416040647/http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/type,MULTILATERALTREATY,CIS,RUS,49997ae32c,0.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 April 2013|title=Commonwealth of Independent States Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms|year=1995|access-date=24 March 2013}}

In 1991, four years before the 1995 human rights treaty, article 33 of the Charter of the CIS created a Human Rights Commission with its seat in Minsk, Belarus. This was confirmed by the decision of the Council of Heads of States of the CIS in 1993. In 1995, the CIS adopted a human rights treaty that includes civil and political as well as social and economic human rights. This treaty entered into force in 1998. The CIS treaty is modelled on the European Convention on Human Rights, but lacking the strong implementation mechanisms of the latter. In the CIS treaty, the Human Rights Commission has very vaguely defined authority. The Statute of the Human Rights Commission, however, also adopted by the CIS Member States as a decision, gives the commission the right to receive inter-state as well as individual communications.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}}

CIS members, especially in Central Asia, continue to have among the world's poorest human rights records. Many activists point to examples such as the 2005 Andijan massacre in Uzbekistan to show that there has been almost no improvement in human rights since the collapse of the Soviet Union in Central Asia. The consolidation of power by President Vladimir Putin has resulted in a steady decline in the modest progress of previous years in Russia. In turn, this has led to little to no scrutiny by Russia when it comes to the situation of human rights in other CIS member states. The Commonwealth of Independent States continues to face serious challenges in meeting even basic international standards.[http://www.freedomhouse.org/article/democracy-deficit-grows-former-soviet-union "Democracy Deficit Grows in Former Soviet Union"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222202922/http://www.freedomhouse.org/article/democracy-deficit-grows-former-soviet-union |date=22 February 2014 }} 2011. date retrieved 12 February 2014

{{Main|Collective Security Treaty Organization|United Armed Forces of the Commonwealth of Independent States|Council of Ministers of Defense of the CIS|Joint CIS Air Defense System}}

File:The Council of CIS Defense Ministers.jpg

The CIS Charter establishes the Council of Ministers of Defence, which is vested with the task of coordinating military cooperation of the CIS member states who wish to participate.

In May 1992, six post-Soviet states belonging to the CIS signed the Collective Security Treaty (also referred to as the Tashkent Pact or Tashkent Treaty).{{Cite journal |last1=Legvold |first1=Robert |last2=Arbatov |first2=Alexei |last3=Kaiser |first3=Karl |date=2000 |title=Russia and the West: The 21st Century Security Environment (Eurasia in the 21st Century, Vol. I) |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/20049696 |journal=Foreign Affairs |language=en |volume=79 |issue=2 |pages=62 |doi=10.2307/20049696|jstor=20049696 |url-access=subscription }} Three other post-Soviet states signed in 1993 and the treaty took effect in 1994 and lasted 5 years. When the treaty was subsequently renewed, three countries withdrew, leaving Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan as members.

In December 1993, the CIS Armed Forces Headquarters was abolished.Interfax, 22 December 1993, via Zbigniew Brzezinski, Paige Sullivan, 'Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States' CSIS, 1997, p.464 via Google Books Instead, "the CIS Council of Defence Ministers created a CIS Military Cooperation Coordination Headquarters (MCCH) in Moscow, with 50 percent of the funding provided by Russia."SIPRI 1998 Annual, p.18 General Viktor Samsonov was appointed as Chief of Staff. The headquarters has now moved to 101000, Москва (Moscow), Сверчков переулок, 3/2.

An important manifestation of integration processes in the area of military and defence collaboration of the CIS member states is the creation, in 1995, of the joint CIS Air Defense System. Over the years, the military personnel of the joint CIS Air Defense System grew twofold along the western, European border of the CIS, and by 1.5 times on its southern borders.{{cite web |url=http://www.cis.minsk.by/page.php?id=200 |title=Информация о Совете министров обороны государств – участников Содружества Независимых Государств |publisher=Cis.minsk.by |access-date=23 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923203754/http://www.cis.minsk.by/page.php?id=200 |archive-date=23 September 2015 |url-status=dead }}

In 2002, the six member states agreed to create the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) as a military alliance.{{cite web|url=https://odkb-csto.org/25years/|title=From Treaty to Organization |archive-date=5 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220805173941/https://www.odkb-csto.org/25years/|url-status=live |access-date=12 January 2022}}

In 2007, CSTO members agreed to create a CSTO peacekeeping force.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}

One of the CST's original objectives was to resolve conflicts between CIS members, however military conflicts such as Russia's open assistance and support to the two secessionist areas in Georgia, Russia seizing Crimea and support to secessionist areas in Ukraine, the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan border issues have demonstrated how ineffective the CST and later the CSTO, is in this role.{{cite web |title=The Collective Security Treaty Organization:A Brief Overview |url=https://ifsh.de/file-CORE/documents/yearbook/english/10/Bordyuzha-en.pdf |date=2010}}{{cite web |title=How to intervene symbolically: The CSTO in Kazakhstan |url=https://www.chathamhouse.org/2023/06/how-intervene-symbolically-csto-kazakhstan |date=27 June 2023}}

{{see also|Economy of the Soviet Union}}

Corruption and bureaucracy are serious problems for trade in CIS countries.{{cite web|url=https://www.utoronto.ca/jacyk/files/KuzioCorruptionCIS.pdf|title=Petro Jacyk Program – Centre for Russian and East European Studies, University of Toronto|access-date=25 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211004436/http://www.utoronto.ca/jacyk/files/KuzioCorruptionCIS.pdf|archive-date=11 December 2013|url-status=dead}}

Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev proposed that CIS members take up a digitization agenda to modernize CIS economies.{{cite news|title=Nazarbayev proposes CIS modernisation, meets EUAU counterparts in Sochi|url=https://www.astanacalling.com/nazarbayev-proposes-cis-modernisation-meets-euau-counterparts-sochi/|publisher=Astana Calling|access-date=14 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014183953/https://www.astanacalling.com/nazarbayev-proposes-cis-modernisation-meets-euau-counterparts-sochi/|archive-date=14 October 2017|url-status=dead}}

Economic data{{Cite web|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD?name_desc=false|title=GDP per capita (current US$) | Data|website=data.worldbank.org|access-date=27 August 2020|archive-date=10 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810032047/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD?name_desc=false|url-status=live}}

{{main|GOST|List of GOST standards}}

GOST standards were originally developed by the government of the Soviet Union as part of its national standardization strategy. After the disintegration of the USSR, the GOST standards acquired a new status of the regional standards. They are now administered by the Euro-Asian Council for Standardization, Metrology, and Certification (EASC), a standards organization chartered by the Commonwealth of Independent States.

{{main|free trade agreement|free trade area}}

On 24 September 1993, an Agreement on the Economic Union was signed by the heads of a number of CIS states. Its aim was the forming of conditions of stable development of economies of Contracting Parties to benefit from increases in living standards of their population.{{cite web |title=Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) |url=https://new.cisstat.org/web/eng/cis |access-date=27 August 2023}} This led to other specific agreements.

The terms of the CIS FTA agreements allow member states to enter into the FTA agreements with other countries, as well as to join/create custom unions.{{cite web | url=https://carnegiemoscow.org/commentary/56074 | title=For Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia Free Trade with Europe and Russia is Possible }} Like other Commonwealth of Independent States agreements, this agreement does not regulate relations with third countries and allows differentiated integration (aka à la carte and multi-speed Europe).

{{main|Commonwealth of Independent States Agreement on the Establishment of a Free Trade Area}}

File:CIS_Countries.PNG

On 15 April 1994, at a meeting of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Council of Heads of State in Moscow, the presidents of 12 countries, namely Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Ukraine signed an Agreement on the Establishment of a Free Trade Area (Соглашение о создании зоны свободной торговли).{{cite web |url=http://www.worldtradelaw.net/fta/agreements/cisfta.pdf |title=Free Trade Agreement Between Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Kazakhstan, The Russian Federation, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan And The Kyrgyz Republic |access-date=23 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516081043/http://www.worldtradelaw.net/fta/agreements/cisfta.pdf |archive-date=16 May 2011 }} The Agreement entered into force on 30 December 1994 for those countries that had completed ratification. As of 2023, the Agreement is fully in force for Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine, while Russia and Turkmenistan have notified the application of the Agreement on a provisional basis. According to the executive committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States, no one has ceased participation in the Agreement, made reservations or suspended the application.{{Cite web|url=https://cis.minsk.by/reestrv2/doc/321#documentCard|title=Единый реестр правовых актов и других документов Содружества Независимых Государств|website=cis.minsk.by|access-date=6 September 2023}}

Bilateral FTAs concluded on the basis of CIS 1994 as a framework agreement.{{cite web | url=https://www.macmap.org/en/resources/cis | title=Market Access Map }} According to the analytical material of the executive committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the 1994 version has not yet provided for multilateral free trade, but the conclusion of many bilateral agreements.{{Cite web |date= |title=Соглашение о создании зоны свободной торговли |url=https://economy.gov.by/ru/soglashenie-ru/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004203601/https://economy.gov.by/ru/soglashenie-ru/ |archive-date=2023-10-04 |access-date= |website=economy.gov.by}} Under the 1994 version, the free trade regime enters into force when conditions are met, but, for example, the freedom of transit enters into force immediately between participants. According to the text, transit transportation should not be subject to unreasonable delays or restrictions, and the conditions of transit, including tariffs for transportation by any mode of transport and the provision of services, should not be worse than for domestic shippers, recipients, and owners of goods, as well as no worse than the conditions for any third country.{{cite web | url=https://cis.minsk.by/reestrv2/doc/321#text | title=Единый реестр правовых актов и других документов Содружества Независимых Государств }}

On 2 April 1999, in Moscow, the presidents of 11 countries, namely Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine signed a Protocol on Amendments and Additions to the Agreement on the Establishment of a Free Trade Area of 15 April 1994{{Cite web|url=https://findrulesoforigin.org/documents/pdf/itc00659_full.pdf|title=FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA, BELARUS, GEORGIA, MOLDOVA, KAZAKHSTAN, THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION, UKRAINE, UZBEKISTAN, TAJIKISTAN AND THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC}} (Протокол о внесении изменений и дополнений в Соглашение о создании зоны свободной торговли от 15 апреля 1994 года). Turkmenistan did not participate. The Protocol entered into force on 24 November 1999 for those countries that had completed ratification. As of 2023, the Protocol has entered into force for all countries, namely Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Ukraine, except Russia, which remains a signatory but has not notified entry into force or provisional application. According to the executive committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States, no one has ceased participation in the Protocol or suspended the application, while one reservation was made by Azerbaijan on non-application in relation to Armenia and two specific opinions were expressed by Georgia and Ukraine.{{Cite web|url=https://cis.minsk.by/reestrv2/doc/884#documentCard|title=Единый реестр правовых актов и других документов Содружества Независимых Государств|website=cis.minsk.by|access-date=6 September 2023}}

According to the analytical material of the executive committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the 1999 Protocol replaced the existing bilateral free trade regime with a multilateral regime, eliminated all fees, as well as taxes and levies with equivalent effect, and quantitative restrictions on the import and export of goods in mutual trade of the FTA participating states, established a procedure for dispute resolution, etc.{{cite web | url=https://cis.minsk.by/page/18968 | title=Аналитический материал о Договоре о зоне свободной торговли (по состоянию на 31 октября 2011 г.) - Исполнительный комитет СНГ }} The 1999 version refers to the principles of the World Trade Organisation, envisages cooperation in economic policy, payments, customs cooperation, taxes, science, provides for a ratchet effect prohibiting the imposition of new tariffs and restrictions, provides for treatment no worse than that of any third country, and provides for the transit of goods on the basis of the principle of freedom of transit without discrimination.

The 2011 CIS FTA Treaty envisages that the 1994 agreement and the 1999 protocol no longer apply among its eight participants (Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Armenia, and Moldova), however, among the rest of the countries, they continue to be applied.

International Trade Centre says the 1994 Agreement on the Establishment of a Free Trade Area signed by 12 CIS countries still continues to be used by Azerbaijan and Georgia in trade with other CIS countries except with Russia and Turkmenistan. Reportedly it is also used bilaterally between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan pending Tajikistan's ratification of Uzbekistan's accession to the 2011 CIS Free Trade Area Treaty.

{{main|Commonwealth of Independent States Free Trade Area}}

File:Stamp of Russia 2011 No 1542.jpg

File:CISFTA (orthographic projection).svg

In 2009, a new agreement was begun to create an FTA, the CIS Free Trade Agreement (CISFTA).{{citation needed|date=February 2023}} In October 2011, the new free trade agreement was signed by eight of the eleven CIS prime ministers; Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, and Ukraine at a meeting in St. Petersburg. Initially, the treaty was only ratified by Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine,[http://www.usubc.org/site/member-news/cis-free-trade-agreement-comes-into-force CIS Free Trade Agreement comes into force; Baker & McKenzi, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, 18 October 2012] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225050742/http://www.usubc.org/site/member-news/cis-free-trade-agreement-comes-into-force |date=25 February 2014 }}, 18 October 2011[http://www.odessatalk.com/2014/09/russias-duma-ratifies-eurasian-economic-union/ Russia’s Duma ratifies Eurasian Economic Union] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622111443/http://www.odessatalk.com/2014/09/russias-duma-ratifies-eurasian-economic-union/ |date=22 June 2018 }}, odessatalk.com. Retrieved 22 June 2018. However, by the end of 2012, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Moldova had also completed ratification.[https://www.kaztag.kz/en/news/kazakhstan-ratified-agreement-on-free-trade-zone Kazakhstan ratified agreement on Free Trade zone] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622140506/https://www.kaztag.kz/en/news/kazakhstan-ratified-agreement-on-free-trade-zone |date=22 June 2018 }} www.kaztag.kz. Retrieved 22 June 2018.[http://arka.am/en/news/economy/armenia_ratifies_cis_free_trade_zone_agreement/ Armenia ratifies CIS free trade zone agreement] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622140550/http://arka.am/en/news/economy/armenia_ratifies_cis_free_trade_zone_agreement/ |date=22 June 2018 }}, arka.am. Retrieved 22 June 2018. In December 2013, Uzbekistan, signed and then ratified the treaty,{{Cite web|date=28 December 2013|title=Uzbekistan Joins CIS Free-Trade Zone|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/uzbekistan-joins-cis-free-trade-zone/25215190.html|access-date=11 October 2021|website=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|archive-date=29 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029174027/https://www.rferl.org/a/uzbekistan-joins-cis-free-trade-zone/25215190.html|url-status=live}}[http://www.azernews.az/region/65752.html Uzbekistan joins CIS free trade zone] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401220004/http://www.azernews.az/region/65752.html |date=1 April 2016 }}, azernews.az. Retrieved 22 June 2018. while the remaining two signatories, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan later both ratified the treaty in January 2014 and December 2015 respectively.[http://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/Dushanbe-ratifies-agreement-on-CIS-free-trade-area.html Dushanbe ratifies agreement on CIS free trade area] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622140135/http://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/Dushanbe-ratifies-agreement-on-CIS-free-trade-area.html |date=22 June 2018 }}, Vestnik Kavkaza. Retrieved 22 June 2018.[https://akipress.com/news:570508 Tajikistan ratifies CIS Free Trade Zone Agreement] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622140136/https://akipress.com/news:570508 |date=22 June 2018 }}, AKIpress. Retrieved 22 June 2018 Azerbaijan is the only full CIS member state not to participate in the free trade area.

The free trade agreement eliminates export and import duties on several goods but also contains a number of exemptions that will ultimately be phased out.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}} An agreement was also signed on the basic principles of currency regulation and currency controls in the CIS at the same October 2011 meeting.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

{{main|Trade in services|Commonwealth of Independent States Agreement on Free Trade in Services, Establishment, Operations and Investment}}

In Sochi on 8 June 2023, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan signed an Agreement on Free Trade in Services, Establishment, Operations, and Investment.{{cite web | url=https://cis.minsk.by/reestrv2/doc/6738#documentCard | title=Единый реестр правовых актов и других документов Содружества Независимых Государств }}

The CIS-Election Monitoring Organisation ({{langx|ru|Миссия наблюдателей от СНГ на выборах}}) is an election monitoring body that was formed in October 2002, following a Commonwealth of Independent States heads of states meeting which adopted the Convention on the Standards of Democratic Elections, Electoral Rights, and Freedoms in the Member States of the Commonwealth of Independent States. The CIS-EMO has been sending election observers to member countries of the CIS since this time.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}

CIS election monitoring has been characterized by scholars as low-quality, as the CIS tends to validate elections that are obviously flawed.{{Cite journal |last1=Bush |first1=Sarah Sunn |last2=Cottiero |first2=Christina |last3=Prather |first3=Lauren |date=2024 |title=Zombies ahead: Explaining the rise of low-quality election monitoring |journal=The Review of International Organizations |language=en |doi=10.1007/s11558-024-09554-3 |issn=1559-744X|doi-access=free }}

Controversies

The election monitoring body has approved many elections which have been heavily criticised by independent observers.{{cite news |url=http://www.economist.com/node/21548933 |access-date=19 May 2012 |title=Election fraud: How to steal an election |newspaper=The Economist |date=3 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514212634/http://www.economist.com/node/21548933 |archive-date=14 May 2012 |url-status=live }}

• The democratic nature of the final round of the 2004 Ukrainian presidential election which followed the Orange Revolution and brought into power the former opposition, was questioned by the CIS while the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) found no significant problems. This was the first time that the CIS observation teams challenged the validity of an election, saying that it should be considered illegitimate. On 15 March 2005, the Ukrainian Independent Information Agency quoted Dmytro Svystkov (a spokesman of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry) that Ukraine had suspended its participation in the CIS election monitoring organization.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}
• The CIS praised the Uzbekistan parliamentary elections, 2005 as "legitimate, free and transparent" while the OSCE had referred to the Uzbek elections as having fallen "significantly short of OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections".{{cite web |url=http://enews.ferghana.ru/detail.php?id=85538093500.83,282,17595509 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710135748/http://enews.ferghana.ru/detail.php?id=85538093500.83,282,17595509 |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 July 2012 |title=Foreign observers differ in their evaluation of the election in Uzbekistan |publisher=Enews.ferghana.ru |access-date=23 July 2013 }}[http://www.ln.mid.ru/brp_4.nsf/0/030111d3b474a94cc3256f790042f6f9?OpenDocument Alexander Yakovenko, the Spokesman of Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Answers a Russian Media Question Regarding International Observers' Conclusions on Election Results in Ukraine and Uzbekistan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123213327/http://www.ln.mid.ru/brp_4.nsf/0/030111d3b474a94cc3256f790042f6f9?OpenDocument |date=23 January 2009 }}
• Moldovan authorities refused to invite CIS observers in the 2005 Moldovan parliamentary elections, an action Russia criticised. Many dozens of such observers from Belarus and Russia were stopped from reaching Moldova.{{cite web|url=http://www.azi.md/news?ID=33324|title=CIS Observers Outraged by Deportation of Colleagues|website=azi.md|access-date=27 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927180141/http://www.azi.md/news?ID=33324|archive-date=27 September 2007|url-status=live}}
• CIS observers monitored the Tajikistan parliamentary elections, in 2005 and in the end declared them "legal, free and transparent." The same elections were pronounced by the OSCE to have failed international standards for democratic elections.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}
• Soon after CIS observers hailed the Kyrgyz parliamentary elections of 2005 as "well-organized, free, and fair", as large-scale and often violent demonstrations broke out throughout the country protesting what the opposition called a rigged parliamentary election. In contrast, the OSCE reported that the elections fell short of international standards in many areas.{{cite web |last=Kupchinsky |first=Roman |url=http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/04/e791916d-4690-4835-9f2d-d230541270e6.html |title=CIS: Monitoring The Election Monitors |publisher=Rferl.org |access-date=23 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080614003350/http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/04/e791916d-4690-4835-9f2d-d230541270e6.html |archive-date=14 June 2008 |url-status=live }}
• International observers of the Interparliamentary Assembly stated the 2010 local elections in Ukraine were organised well.[http://razumkov.org.ua/eng/expert.php?news_id=2417 EU will not condemn the local elections in Ukraine] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170107115654/http://razumkov.org.ua/eng/expert.php?news_id=2417 |date=7 January 2017 }}, Razumkov Centre (3 November 2010) While the Council of Europe uncovered a number of problems in relation to a new electorate law approved just prior to the elections and the Obama administration criticised the conduct of the elections, saying they "did not meet standards for openness and fairness".[http://www.rferl.org/content/Interview_Top_US_Diplomat_Discusses_Regional_Developments_Abuses_Stalemates_And_Cooperation/2211838.html Interview: Top U.S. Diplomat Discusses Regional Developments, Abuses, Stalemates, And Cooperation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124030137/http://www.rferl.org/content/Interview_Top_US_Diplomat_Discusses_Regional_Developments_Abuses_Stalemates_And_Cooperation/2211838.html |date=24 November 2010 }}, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (5 November 2010)[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703506904575592431134922388 Ukraine's Ballot Flawed, U.S. Says] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310180442/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703506904575592431134922388 |date=10 March 2016 }}, The Wall Street Journal (4 November 2010)

Russia has urged that the Russian language receive official status in all of the CIS member states. So far Russian is an official language in only four states: Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Russian is also considered an official language in the region of Transnistria and the autonomous region of Gagauzia in Moldova. After the Ukrainian 2010 election, President Yanukovych stated "Ukraine will continue to promote the Ukrainian language as its only state language."[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/61283/ Yanukovych: Ukraine will not have second state language] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605060236/http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/61283/ |date=5 June 2011 }}, Kyiv Post (9 March 2010)

At the time of the Soviet Union's dissolution in December 1991, its sports teams had been invited to or qualified for various 1992 sports events. A joint CIS team took its place in some of these. The "Unified Team" competed in the 1992 Winter Olympics and 1992 Summer Olympics, and a CIS association football team competed in UEFA Euro 1992. A CIS bandy team played some friendlies in January 1992 and made its last appearance at the 1992 Russian Government Cup, where it also played against the new Russia national bandy team. The Soviet Union bandy championship for 1991–1992 was rebranded as a CIS championship, this lasted just one year before it became Russian bandy.

In 2017, a festival for national sports and games, known as the Festival of National Sports and Games of the Commonwealth of Independent States ({{langx|ru|Фестиваль национальных видов спорта и игр государств — участников Содружества Независимых Государств}}) was held in Ulyanovsk. The main sports were sambo, tug of war, mas-wrestling, gorodki, belt wrestling, lapta, bandy (rink), kettlebell lifting, chess and archery. A few demonstration sports were also a part of the programme.{{cite web|url=http://sportuln.ru/komandy-i-vidy-sporta|title=Виды спорта – I Фестиваль национальных видов спорта и игр государств – участников СНГ – Ульяновск 2017|website=sportuln.ru|access-date=30 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201041917/http://sportuln.ru/komandy-i-vidy-sporta|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=dead}}

In 2021 the first CIS games took place in Kazan with 9 nations and 2,000 athletes. The second games took place in 2023 in Belarus.

The CIS has also been a relevant forum to support cultural relations between former Soviet republics. In 2006, the Council of the Heads of Governments of the CIS launched the Intergovernmental Foundation for Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Cooperation (IFESCCO).{{Cite web|url=http://www.mfgs-sng.org/eng/|title=IFESCCO|website=www.mfgs-sng.org|access-date=29 May 2020|archive-date=27 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627220319/http://www.mfgs-sng.org/eng/|url-status=dead}} IFESSCO has substantially relied on Russia's financial support since its creation and supported several multilateral cultural events, including the ‘CIS Capital of Culture’ initiative.{{cite web |last=Valenza |first=Domenico |url=https://ayape.EU/en-publication-36-Russias_Cultural_Diplomacy_in_the_South_Caucasus_Instruments_Assets_and_Challenges_Ahead.HTML |title=Russia's Cultural Diplomacy in the South Caucasus: Instruments, Assets and Challenges Ahead |publisher=Ayape.EU |access-date=29 May 2020 |archive-date=24 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224165807/https://ayape.eu/en-publication-36-Russias_Cultural_Diplomacy_in_the_South_Caucasus_Instruments_Assets_and_Challenges_Ahead.html |url-status=dead }} In 2017, the Armenian city of Goris was declared the CIS Cultural Capital of the year, in 2022 it was Karakol in Kyrgyzstan.

The combined population of all member states is 246,200,194 as of 2024.

{{Largest cities in Commonwealth of Independent States}}

{{Update section|date=October 2024}}

Life expectancy at birth in the countries of CIS in 2021, according to the World Bank Group.{{cite web|title=Life expectancy at birth, total|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.IN|publisher=The World Bank Group|date=29 June 2023|access-date=6 July 2023}}{{cite web|title=Life expectancy at birth, male|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.MA.IN|publisher=The World Bank Group|date=29 June 2023|access-date=6 July 2023}}{{cite web|title=Life expectancy at birth, female|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.FE.IN|publisher=The World Bank Group|date=29 June 2023|access-date=6 July 2023}}

{{static row numbers}}{{sort under}}

File:Life expectancy in countries of CIS.png|Life expectancy at birth in countries of CIS since 1960

File:Healthy life expectancy bar chart -CIS.png|Life expectancy and healthy life expectancy in countries of CIS in 2019{{cite web|title=Life expectancy and Healthy life expectancy, data by country |language=en |publisher=World Health Organization |url=https://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.main.688 |date=4 December 2022}}

File:Healthy life expectancy bar chart -CIS -sex.png|Elaboration by gender

{{main|Post-Soviet states}}

{{Supranational PostSoviet Bodies|size=500px|align=right}}

{{main|Eurasian Economic Community|Customs Union of the Eurasian Economic Union|EAEU}}

{{main|Eurasian Economic Space}}

After a discussion about the creation of a common economic space between the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan, agreement in principle about the creation of this space was announced after a meeting in the Moscow suburb of Novo-Ogarevo on 23 February 2003. The Common Economic Space would involve a supranational commission on trade and tariffs that would be based in Kyiv, would initially be headed by a representative of Kazakhstan, and would not be subordinate to the governments of the four nations. The ultimate goal would be a regional organization that would be open for other countries to join as well, and could eventually lead even to a single currency.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}

On 22 May 2003, the Verkhovna Rada (the Ukrainian Parliament) voted 266 votes in favour and 51 against the joint economic space. However, most believe that Viktor Yushchenko's victory in the Ukrainian presidential election of 2004 was a significant blow against the project: Yushchenko had shown renewed interest in Ukrainian membership in the European Union and such membership would be incompatible with the envisioned common economic space.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}} Yushchenko's successor Viktor Yanukovych stated on 27 April 2010: "Ukraine's entry into the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan is not possible today, since the economic principles and the laws of the WTO do not allow it, we develop our policy following WTO principles". Ukraine has been a WTO member since 2008.[http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/65139/ Yanukovych: Ukraine won't join Customs Union] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514201713/http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/65139/ |date=14 May 2011 }}, Kyiv Post (27 April 2010)

A Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia was thus created in 2010,{{cite web |url=http://www.rbcnews.com/free/20081225170003.shtml |title=Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus plan on common economic space |publisher=Rbcnews.com |access-date=23 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401220730/http://www.rbcnews.com/free/20081225170003.shtml |archive-date=1 April 2013 |url-status=live }} A single market had been envisioned for 2012,{{citation needed|date=February 2023}} but instead the customs union was renamed as the Eurasian Customs Union and expanded to include Armenia and Kyrgyzstan in 2015.

{{main|Union State}}

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan formed the OCAC in 1991 as Central Asian Commonwealth (CAC).{{citation needed|date=December 2021}} The organisation continued in 1994 as the Central Asian Economic Union (CAEU), in which Tajikistan and Turkmenistan did not participate. In 1998 it became the Central Asian Economic Cooperation (CAEC), which marked the return of Tajikistan. On 28 February 2002, it was renamed to its current name. Russia joined on 28 May 2004.{{cite web |url=http://ecetrade.typepad.com/Central%20Asian%20Cooperation%20Organization%20basic%20info.doc |title=Central Asian Cooperation Organisation |access-date=23 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130223122437/http://ecetrade.typepad.com/Central%20Asian%20Cooperation%20Organization%20basic%20info.doc |archive-date=23 February 2013 |url-status=live }} On 7 October 2005, it was decided between the member states that Uzbekistan will join{{citation needed|date=February 2023}} the Eurasian Economic Community and that the organisations will merge.{{cite web |url=http://centralasia.foreignpolicyblogs.com/collective-security-organization-timeline/ |title=Collective Security: A Timeline |publisher=Centralasia.foreignpolicyblogs.com |access-date=23 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510101132/http://centralasia.foreignpolicyblogs.com/collective-security-organization-timeline/ |archive-date=10 May 2011 }} The organisations joined on 25 January 2006. It is not clear what will happen to the status of current CACO observers that are not observers to EurAsEC (Georgia and Turkey).

{{main|Community for Democracy and Rights of Nations}}

The post-Soviet disputed states of Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Transnistria are all members of the Community for Democracy and Rights of Nations which aims to forge closer integration among the members.

{{main|GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development}}

The GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development is a regional organization of four post-Soviet states: Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Moldova.

{{portal|Asia|Europe|Politics|Russia}}

• Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)
• Eurasianism
• Russian world
• Comecon
• Community for Democracy and Rights of Nations
• Dissolution of the Soviet Union
• Eastern Bloc
• Eurasian Economic Union
• Lublin Triangle
• Post-Soviet states
• Unified Team

{{Notelist}}

{{reflist}}

{{reflist|group=journal}}

{{sister project links|d=Q7779|n=no|wikt=no|s=no|q=no|v=no|c=Category:Commonwealth of Independent States|b=no}}

• {{webarchive |url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20060720174729/http://www.therussiasite.org/legal/laws/CIScharter.html |title=Charter of the CIS |date=20 July 2006}}
• [https://e-cis.info Official CIS internet portal (in Russian)]
• [https://www.cis.minsk.by/ CIS Executive Committee (in Russian)]
• [https://new.cisstat.org Interstate Statistical Committee of the CIS (in Russian)]

{{Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)|state=collapsed}}

{{Current CIS Leaders}}

{{Regional organisations}}

{{CARO}}

{{Shanghai Cooperation Organisation}}

{{International power}}

{{Eastern Bloc}}

{{Soviet Union topics}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Commonwealth Of Independent States}}

Category:Post-Soviet states

Category:Confederations

Category:Dissolution of the Soviet Union

Category:United Nations General Assembly observers

Category:Organizations established in 1991

Category:1991 establishments in Asia

Category:1991 establishments in Europe

Category:1991 establishments in the Soviet Union