The signing of the Alma-Ata Protocol represents a significant transition for the post-Soviet states as it formally established the Commonwealth of Independent States. On this day, leaders from 11 out of the 15 former Soviet republics, including Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Belarus, convened in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan. The protocol underscored their agreement to collaborate on common issues while respecting each nation’s independence and sovereignty. This marked a broad consensus in which the parties recognized the need for cooperation in various sectors, including economics, security, and foreign policy in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.

The event came after months of political turmoil in the Soviet Union, leading to its eventual dissolution. The move towards independence emerged out of a desire for self-determination among the republics, many of which were eager to break away from Moscow's control. The protocol not only symbolized the end of the Soviet Union but also set the framework for future relationships between the former states. The leaders acknowledged their will to promote economic ties while ensuring peace and stability in the region, aiming to maintain a cooperative alliance without reverting to central authority from Russia.

The establishment of the CIS would lead to various developments in the political landscape of the region, with subsequent treaties emerging between member states focusing on military and economic collaboration. However, the dynamics within the CIS were complex, as individual republics pursued differing paths of governance and alliances, contributing to varied degrees of cooperation over the years. Understanding these early agreements is crucial to grasping the evolution of post-Soviet space politics.