On Thursday, Russian military announced that Moscow-led peacekeeping forces under the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) has begun pulling out from Kazakhstan after their week-long deployment.
During a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu confirmed that the troops will complete their withdrawal by January 19. Shoigu added that the CSTO’s peacekeeping forces, which comprises of troops from ex-Soviet nations, have completed their tasks and started transferring various facilities back to Kazakhstan’s security agencies. “As of today, everything is under control, and our coordination is excellent,” Shoigu said, adding that the quick release of CSTO’s 1,600 security officers to “fight the criminals who brought chaos to the republic,” was crucial in stabilising the situation.
Putin emphasised that “CSTO peacekeepers have played a very important role in stabilising the situation in Kazakhstan, our closest partner and ally,” adding that his Kazakh counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also agrees with this statement. Putin thanked Shoigu for carrying out the CSTO’s first peacekeeping mission, saying, “Everything went like clockwork: quickly, smoothly and efficiently.”
Last week, CSTO forces were deployed in Kazakhstan at the request of Tokayev in an effort to quell the country’s worst riots in its 30-year history. About 2,000 CSTO troops and 250 military equipment were provided to Kazakhstan as Tokayev declared a two-week long state of emergency.
On Thursday, the two leaders held a phone call to discuss the current situation in Kazakhstan as CSTO troops commenced their withdrawal. Tokayev thanked Putin and stressed that the troops played a vital role in the “restoration of law and order” in the country. On January 6, Kazakhstan’s government resigned after violent protests over a recent fuel price hike rocked various cities across the country, particularly capital Nur Sultan, Almaty and the southwestern province of Mangistau. Hundreds stormed the presidential residence and mayor’s office in Almaty and some also set police vehicles ablaze and seized the airport.
During an extraordinary CSTO meeting on Monday, Tokayev claimed that un-named “terrorists” including “foreign fighters” were responsible for the recent unrest. Putin supported his claims saying that he will make sure that a “so-called colour revolution scenario,” does not occur in Kazakhstan. Moreover, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also voiced his support for Russia’s efforts in eradicating foreign interference from Central Asian politics.
The United States (US) said they were “closely” following the developments in Kazakhstan. White House press secretary Jen Psaki even slammed allegations about the US driving protests in Kazakhstan calling them “crazy Russian claims.” Kazakhstan’s large oil and gas fields and its position as a major exporter of minerals, including raw uranium, make it an important ally for both Washington and Moscow.