TBILISI, August 18 (RIA Novosti) - Georgia officially ended its membership of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) on Tuesday.

Tbilisi announced its desire to quit the Russian-dominated organization after a five-day war with Russia over the Georgian breakaway republic of South Ossetia last August.

In line with the CIS Charter, formal withdrawal comes into effect 12 months after the CIS executive committee is informed of the decision.

Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister David Jalaghania said on Monday the Georgian authorities are ready to continue cooperating with the members of the post Soviet alliance provided that its territorial integrity is respected.

In February 2006, Georgia officially withdrew from the CIS Council of Defense Ministers, saying that the country was bidding to join NATO and could not be part of two military alliances simultaneously.

The CIS comprises Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Moldova, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Ukraine is a founding and participating country but technically not a member state. Turkmenistan holds associate status.