Russian PM: Possible withdrawal from CIS to harm Ukraine's economy

Russian prime minister said Ukraine's potential withdrawal from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) will weaken the country's economy.
"A withdrawal from any organization is not a very good thing. First, for the state that is leaving. This is their business and no one is trying to impose anything on them. But one should not forget that the CIS is, among other things, a free trade zone. And if they suspend work in this format, apparently their economy will deteriorate," Dmitry Medvedev noted, the Voice of Russia reported.
He said this was the cost of the Ukrainian politics. "They must think of ordinary citizens in case this question is on the table."
The premier said that the question on Ukraine's withdrawal from the CIS was not on the agenda for the today's meeting of CIS Heads of Government.
"Speculations about Ukraine's withdrawal from the CIS came the day after Crimea signed a reunification treaty with Russia on March 18. Kiev announced back then it would abandon its post as this year's rotating head of the CIS," Medvedef said, adding it may reconsider its membership in the organization soon.
According to a number of media reports that emerged this week Ukraine was planning to back out from the organization.
The press office of Ukraine's National Security Committee Secretary Andrey Parubiy later issued a statement denying the reports. Russia also said it could not confirm the information as it was unaware of Kiev sending any official notification to the Commonwealth of Independent States.