US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken commented on the decision of the authorities of Kazakhstan to seek help to the peacekeeping forces of the Collective Security Treaty (CSTO) to suppress riots in the country. His words about the “history lesson” about the Russian Federation brings “Interfax”.
Blinken stressed that he did not understand why Kazakhstan needed assistance of the CSTO forces.
The United States seeks to get more information about the situation and will follow the actions of the CSTO forces, added the Secretary of State.
CSTO peacekeepers in Kazakhstan
January 5, after three days after the start of the protests, the President of Kazakhstan Kasim-Zhomart Tokayev appealed to the CSTO for help because of the riots started in the country.
Also, with a proposal to turn to the CSTO, the first cosmonaut-Kazakh Toktar Aubakirov spoke. According to Aubakirov, it turned out that in Kazakhstan “there is not enough own forces.”
On January 6, the first board with Russian troops arrived in Almaty. The CSTO Secretary General Stanislav reports that the term of the presence of peacekeepers in Kazakhstan will depend on the situation and decisions of the leadership of Kazakhstan. In the CSTO, it is calculated that the servicemen will be able to leave the country in a few days or a few weeks. The Commander of the Airborne Forces Russia, Colonel-General Andrei Serdyukov, was appointed head of the CSTO peacemakers in Kazakhstan.
Later, the President of the Republic of Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev said that the CSTO peacekeeping forces will stay in the republic until the situation stabilizes.
fire for defeat
On Friday, January 7, President of Kazakhstan Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev ordered to open fire on terrorists to defeat without warning. “What are the negotiations with criminals, with bandits? They need to be destroyed. This will be done soon,” Tokaev said. According to him, foreign terrorists are involved in the riots in Kazakhstan, which will incite “the so-called free media and foreign figures”.
The official representative of the White House Karin Jean-Pierre appreciated the order, noting that he was worried about the international community. She called on the government forces of Kazakhstan to show “restraint” when restoring stability.
Start Protests
Protests in Kazakhstan began on Sunday, January 2, due to the increase in gas prices for cars. The cost of the liter rose from 60 to 120 tenge (from 10 to 20 rubles). Soon economic requirements were replaced by political. The protesters demanded the resignation of the government, holding new elections, as well as consideration of the issue of the lustration of people from the “clan” of the former President of Nursultan Nazarbayev.
To Wednesday, January 5, rallies have grown into bulk riots. In Alma-Ata, shops, banks were plundered, captured by the airport building, police plots, government agencies and infrastructure facilities. President of the Republic of Kasim-Zhomart Tokayev asked for help from the CSTO. Army was sent to suppressing speeches. In the republic, a red level of terrorist danger was introduced.