UPSC Prelims 2009 Q146: Current Affairs – International Organisations & Groupings

UPSC Prelims 2009, General Studies Paper I · Current Affairs

In the latter half of the year 2008, which one of the following countries pulled out of Commonwealth of Independent States?

Answer: (c) Georgia

Explanation

Which country pulled out of the CIS in 2008

Following a significant regional conflict, one former Soviet state formally withdrew from this regional grouping.

Option	Verdict	Reason
(a) Azerbaijan	Incorrect	Did not withdraw from the CIS at this time
(b) Belarus	Incorrect	Did not withdraw from the CIS at this time
(c) Georgia	Correct	Following the 2008 Russia-Georgia war, Georgia formally withdrew from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
(d) Kazakhstan	Incorrect	Did not withdraw from the CIS at this time

CIS withdrawal facts:

Point	Detail
Country	Georgia
Context	Following the 2008 Russia-Georgia war

Answer: (c) Georgia.

(a) Incorrect. Azerbaijan did not withdraw from the CIS at this time.
(b) Incorrect. Belarus also did not withdraw.
(c) CORRECT. Georgia withdrew from the CIS following the 2008 Russia-Georgia war.
(d) Incorrect. Kazakhstan also did not withdraw.

Georgia formally withdrew from the Commonwealth of Independent States in the latter half of 2008, following the Russia-Georgia war.

Georgia pulled out of the Commonwealth of Independent States in the latter half of 2008.

Confusing Georgia's specific 2008 withdrawal with other former Soviet states' continued CIS membership.
Not connecting this withdrawal to the Russia-Georgia war context.
Mixing up different Central Asian/Caucasus nations' relationships with the CIS.

Georgia withdrew from the CIS in 2008, following its war with Russia. A specific, context-linked geopolitical fact.

Commonwealth of Independent States — Charter of the Commonwealth of Independent States (1993)
Encyclopaedia Britannica — Commonwealth of Independent States