CIS Celebrates 32nd Anniversary of its Establishment

On 8 December 1991, the Agreement on the Establishment of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was signed. The document stated that the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics ceased to exist as a “subject of international law and geopolitical reality” and declared the establishment of the CIS.

Since the signing of the Agreement, an intensive process of organization of interstate bodies of the CIS began, one of them was the Interparliamentary Assembly of Member Nations of the Commonwealth of Independent States. 

During its existence, the CIS has become a leading platform for mutually beneficial cooperation and equitable interstate and interparliamentary dialog, and has achieved significant success in developing institutions and mechanisms of cooperation and solving regional problems.

Cooperation is based on an extensive system of supreme and sectoral bodies that ensure interaction at the level of heads of state, governments, parliaments and supreme courts. Over 32 years, 2778 decisions and other documents have been adopted at the highest level only, 1875 documents of which are currently in force and remain valid.

According to the Concept of CIS Cooperation Development, approved by the decision of the Council of the CIS Heads of State in 2020, the main distinguishing features of the Commonwealth are the organization of interaction in virtually all areas of interstate relations, flexibility of mechanisms and formats of collective cooperation based on the commonality of interests and tasks faced by the participating States, mutual trust and respect. The experience of the Commonwealth today is actively used by other regional organizations as an example of successful integration and partnership that meets the interests and needs of all members of the association.

The CIS presidency in 2024 will be held by the Russian Federation. At the meeting of the Council of the CIS Heads of State in Bishkek on 13 October President of Russia Vladimir Putin said that “next year, during its presidency in the Commonwealth, Russia will make every effort to deepen equal and mutually beneficial cooperation”.