Evolution of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly: historical periodization and shifts in functional paradigms (1992–2020)

The purpose of the research. This article presents the results of a comprehensive study aimed at analyzing and periodizing the activities of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS Member Nations (IPA CIS) from 1992 to 2020. The scientific novelty of this work lies in its proposal of a unique six-stage classification of the evolution of interparliamentary cooperation within the IPA CIS, based on an analysis of changes in its legal status, institutional structure, and foreign policy context. This periodization differs from traditional approaches and reveals the complex transformation of the IPA CIS. The organization evolved from a coordinator of post-Soviet transition processes to an important element of parliamentary diplomacy in the context of contemporary international relations. The use of historical methods confirmed that the sustainability and functional relevance of the IPA CIS over several decades was ensured by the flexibility of its primary instrument — model lawmaking as well as the ability to adapt its activities to the challenges of regional and global politics.