Moldova Parliament moves to denounce two CIS agreements

The Moldovan Parliament has approved the first reading of bills to denounce two cooperation agreements within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

The first agreement, established in 1992, concerns the restitution of cultural and historical values to their countries of origin. Authorities stated the agreement has become redundant as Moldova has developed its own national systems for the protection and recovery of mobile cultural heritage.

The second document, a 2017 protocol, governs the transfer of narcotics, weapons, ammunition, and explosive materials used as evidence in criminal cases. Officials noted that the cooperation mechanisms outlined in this protocol have not been utilized in practice.

Parliament noted that denouncing these specific CIS protocols does not end Moldova's international cooperation in criminal matters, as the country remains a party to other frameworks, including the European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters.