Moldova’s parliament has approved the country’s withdrawal from the Russia-led Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), in a move described by officials as a key step towards European Union integration, a parliament statement said.

Lawmakers voted to denounce the CIS founding agreement, its protocol and statute, with 60 of 101 MPs backing the decision. The vote was supported by deputies from the ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), the Democracy at Home faction and some members of the Alternativa bloc, Deschide reported. Members of the Socialist Party (PSRM), the Communist Party (PCRM), Our Party, and the remaining members of the Alternative bloc voted against or abstained from voting.

The Communists argued that Moldova's withdrawal from the CIS "will have catastrophic consequences" for the country's economy.

"This is a tragedy for the country, for its economy. Those who voted for this today didn't say during the election campaign that they were planning this. They don't even imagine what will follow. This government will go, sooner or later, and don't mess with them again," PCRM leader and former president Vladimir Voronin stated, according to Newsmaker.

The initiative was put forward by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which argued that the CIS no longer reflects its founding principles. Authorities pointed in particular to violations of territorial integrity and sovereignty, citing Russia’s war in Ukraine, past actions in Georgia and the continued presence of Russian troops in Moldova’s separatist Transnistria region.

The government said exiting the CIS is a “natural and inevitable” step in the country’s path towards EU accession.

The decision marks a symbolic shift away from Moscow’s sphere of influence. European Parliament member Siegfried Mureșan welcomed the vote, saying the CIS had primarily served Russian interests.

“The CIS was used only so that Russia could have influence and better control the other member states, continuing the USSR model,” Mureșan said in a message published on social media, adding that the organisation had failed to prevent conflicts or coercive actions among its members.

Moldova has gradually disengaged from CIS structures in recent years as relations with Russia deteriorated and the government accelerated reforms aligned with the European Union.