ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses the peacekeeping mechanisms of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and its capacity to act as a legitimate regional organisation in the realm of security. The first basic CIS document on peacekeeping is the "Agreement on Groups of Military Observers and Collective Peacekeeping Forces" of 20 March 1992. It states that CIS "peacekeeping groups" may be established for a limited time upon the request of the parties to the conflict, and subject to the decision of the CIS Council of the Heads of State. The description of the functions of the commander of the CIS peacekeeping forces in Abkhazia in many parts reiterates the mandate of the commander of the CIS forces in Tajikistan. The fact that Tajik government troops were part of the CIS force can be explained with reference to the intention of Russia to regard the mission of the troops in Tajikistan as "collective defence", and not as "peacekeeping".
