The article focuses on the newly formed Commonwealth of Independent States, which was launched by three Slav republics, Russia, Ukraine, and Belorussia, in the Belorussian capital, Minsk, on December 8, 1991. It has already done two valuable jobs. One was to provide the means of a quick, dignified death for Russia. The Commonwealth's other use has been to offer a forum for resolving, or at least discussing, the problems bequeathed by Russia to its successor states. A couple of the most pressing issues have already been settled, on paper anyway.