Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

State established as the successor to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) after the fall of the Soviet Communist government. The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was established by treaty on December 8, 1991, in Minsk, Belarus. It was expected to function as a central authority for the republics of the former Soviet Union, which became independent nations after the Soviet collapse. In that respect, it was modeled on the European Economic Community, now called the European Union. The treaty gave the CIS authority to establish a common economic sphere and to coordinate foreign policy, environmental protection efforts, and immigration and crime control.

The original signatories to the treaty that created the CIS were the heads of state of Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan joined as members shortly thereafter. Georgia became the last of the former republics to join, entering into the agreement in 1993. By this time, all former Soviet Republics were members of the CIS, with the exception of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, which permanently abstained. The newly formed authority assumed ownership of all former Soviet state facilities following the formal disbandment of the USSR. The United States recognized the independence of the signatory republics, and subsequently all states attained separate United Nations membership by 1992. The CIS still maintains a headquarters in Minsk.

From the outset, however, the CIS was characterized by internal strife and a disregard for written declarations. Although its charter called for recognition of the sovereign equality of all members, ethnic and regional hostilities erupted into a series of wars in the former republics. In Georgia, Moldova, Tajikistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the North Caucasus area of Russia, regional conflicts occurred on a continual basis. During the Soviet era, the central government had kept a lid on ethnic tensions, but in the absence of a strong state authority, these divisions erupted into violence.

Fundamental disagreement also surfaced among the republics over the goals and purpose of the CIS. The main point of contention was a disagreement over integration with Russia. Russia and Kazakhstan visualized the CIS as a vehicle for closer economic and political assimilation. However, Ukraine and other states that were less receptive to integration with Russia regarded the CIS as an organization whose purpose was to assist individual republics in the transition to full independence.

In 1993, Kyrgyzstan ignored written CIS procedure and issued its own currency. This prompted other states to abandon the Russian ruble as their common currency. That same year, the CIS joint military command was abolished. Russia gained control over strategic weapons by taking possession of the nuclear launch codes, thereby redefining the military mission of the CIS.

At present, all CIS nations have their own currencies, and members have taken turns expressing public disapproval of Russia for its slow implementation of the CIS agreements. For reasons of their own, Ukraine, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Moldova have been relatively inactive in the alliance. Armenia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Georgia, in contrast, have accepted Russia's protection under a joint defense system, even though Georgia seeks the ultimate removal of Russian forces from its territory.

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