Flag of the Commonwealth of Independent States
Locally Sodruzhestvo Nezavisimykh Gosudarstv · Содружество Независимых Государств
What the flag looks like
A blue field with a white emblem in the center: a yellow disc held in a cup of curling white arcs that rise from a row of upright white bars.
What it means
The emblem is meant to express equal partnership, unity, peace and stability; the yellow disc stands for light and warmth.
How to remember it
The CIS
holds a yellow sun in a white cup of curling arcs on blue, like a fountain catching the light.
Fun facts
- The CIS was founded in December 1991 as the Soviet Union broke up; Georgia left in 2009 and Ukraine ended its participation in 2018.
- Moldova's parliament voted in April 2026 to withdraw from the CIS founding agreements.
Commonwealth of Independent States at a glance
- Founded
- 1991
- Members
- 9 states
- Headquarters
- Minsk
- Headquarters
- Minsk
- Region
- Founded 1991
- Languages
- Russian
- Flag adopted
- 1996