OREANDA-NEWS Moldova will not be able to withdraw from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), while retaining the rights of a participating country. This was stated by Russian Ambassador to Chisinau Oleg Ozerov, RIA Novosti reports.

"The CIS is not a charity. This is a body of mutual obligations, you can't give up your obligations and keep your rights," the ambassador said.

He added that the free trade agreement may expire, and the list of documents that may remain will be determined by the CIS members.

Earlier, the Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Sergei Lebedev, said that the CIS authorities would consider this possibility within a year. It is noted that the agreements in which Chisinau wants to remain involved consider preferential tariffs for border crossings for goods.