PM: Georgia Considers Possible Withdrawal from CIS

Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli said after the government’s session on May 2 that the government is currently discussing the issue of Georgia possible withdrawal from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

“I cannot say anything more about this issue now,” the Prime Minister told reporters. 

State Minister for Economic Reforms Kakha Bendukidze said on May 2 that “a number of bilateral agreements should be reached to replace one multilateral agreement.”

Bendukidze was referring to the agreements on free trade and on free movement which have been signed within the framework of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

During a political talk show aired by Imedi television on May 1 Okruashvili spoke about Georgia’s relations with Russia and said, while answering the question of why Georgia remains in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) against the background of deteriorating ties with Russia, that he will respond to this question “in exactly one week.”