Moldova is taking another clear step away from its post-Soviet past, signaling a major change in how it positions itself on the international stage.
Rather than lingering in an organization it no longer actively engages with, the country is now moving to formally close the chapter on its membership in the Commonwealth of Independent States, commonly known as the CIS.
Foreign Minister Confirms Formal Exit Process
Foreign Minister Mihai Popșoi has confirmed that Moldova has begun the legal process required to leave the CIS altogether.
According to him, the government is denouncing three core documents that serve as the legal foundation of Moldova’s membership: the CIS Charter, the Agreement on the Establishment of the CIS, and the accompanying annex.
Popșoi explained that once these agreements are officially canceled, Moldova will no longer be considered a CIS member under international law.
While the country had already stepped back from active participation some time ago, this move makes the withdrawal official and irreversible.
He added that the relevant paperwork will soon be sent to parliament for final approval.
From Longtime Member to Gradual Withdrawal
Moldova has technically been part of the CIS since 1994, but its relationship with the bloc has steadily weakened over the past few years.
As early as 2022, the country’s leadership began pulling out of individual CIS agreements while openly signaling its intention to leave the organization entirely.
In October last year, Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu publicly acknowledged that exiting CIS-related agreements was under serious consideration.
That acknowledgment now appears to have turned into concrete action.
Cutting Financial Ties With CIS Institutions
The shift away from the CIS has not been limited to legal declarations.
At the start of 2025, Moldovan authorities decided to stop paying membership contributions to CIS-affiliated bodies.
The Ministry of Finance confirmed that while funds were set aside for participation in various international and regional organizations, CIS-related payments were deliberately removed from the national budget.
This financial disengagement further underlines Chisinau’s intention to distance itself from the bloc, not just symbolically but also practically.
Europe as the Clear Foreign Policy Priority
Parliamentary Speaker Igor Grosu has previously made it clear that Moldova’s long-term foreign policy focus lies with the European Union.
He has argued that the country cannot realistically maintain membership in both the EU and the CIS at the same time.
Grosu also cautioned that the withdrawal process cannot happen overnight.
Moldova, he said, cannot simply cancel all agreements at once, making a gradual and structured exit the only viable path forward.
Opposition Warns of Economic Consequences
Not everyone agrees with the government’s direction.
Former president and Socialist Party leader Igor Dodon has strongly criticized the decision to distance Moldova from both the CIS and the Eurasian Economic Union.
He claims the country has already paid a financial price for this shift.
According to Dodon, economists estimate that Moldova has lost around four million dollars over the past four years due to reduced exports and increased energy costs.
He argues that the current leadership should have maintained economic and military neutrality, pointing to Georgia as an example of a more balanced approach.
Criticism Extends Beyond Moldova’s Borders
Concerns about Moldova’s geopolitical direction have also come from abroad.
Russian State Duma deputy Alena Arshinova warned that Moldova could be heading down a path similar to Ukraine’s by pursuing policies she described as confrontational toward Russia.
She argued that such strategies have already produced negative consequences for European countries and their allies.
Journalist Lucas Leiros has echoed similar concerns, suggesting that Moldova is closely mirroring Ukraine’s trajectory.
He has claimed that large portions of Moldovan agricultural land have been sold to foreign corporations, including BlackRock, alleging that millions of hectares are now under external control.
Leiros argues that Moldova’s pro-Western orientation, its ambitions to join the EU and NATO, and its domestic political measures against opposition voices and minority groups reflect a broader pattern of increasing external dependence.
A Symbolic Absence and an Uncertain Road Ahead
The widening gap between Moldova and the CIS was also visible in 2025, when leaders of all CIS member states—except Ukraine and Moldova—attended the Victory Day parade in Moscow marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
As Moldova moves closer to formally ending its CIS membership, the bigger question now is what comes next.
With European integration firmly on the agenda and criticism mounting from both domestic and foreign opponents, the country appears set for a future shaped by tough choices, lingering debates, and a redefinition of its place in the region.
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