Bishkek. January 7. INTERFAX - President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov signed a decree on sending a Kyrgyz military contingent to Kazakhstan to participate in peacekeeping activities within the framework of the CSTO, the press service of the head of state reported on Friday.
"Sadyr Zhaparov signed a decree on sending a military contingent of Kyrgyzstan to participate in peacekeeping activities on the territory of Kazakhstan. In accordance with the decree, it is decided to send the military contingent of Kyrgyzstan to participate in peacekeeping activities for a limited time period in order to stabilize and normalize the situation on the territory of Kazakhstan," the message reads.
On Friday, the Kyrgyz parliament at a closed meeting supported the decision to send Kyrgyz servicemen to Kazakhstan.
According to the Ministry of Defense of the country, 150 special forces soldiers "Scorpion", eight units of armored vehicles and 11 units of motor vehicles will be sent to Kazakhstan through the Russian military base in Kant.
On Thursday, the head of the Kyrgyz government, Akylbek Zhaparov, said that in accordance with the decision of the head of state and the CSTO Council, Kyrgyzstan confirms its readiness to support Kazakhstan and fulfill its allied obligations within the framework of the CSTO to the extent necessary in connection with the address of the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The situation in Kazakhstan worsened on January 2, when rallies against a sharp increase in prices for liquefied gas began in Zhanaozen (a city in the Mangystau region, in the west of the country). Then they escalated into mass protests across the country with economic and political demands. On January 4 and 5, protesters clashed with security forces in Almaty. There are dead and injured. On the morning of January 5, the President of Kazakhstan dismissed the government. A state of emergency has been introduced in the country.
On Wednesday, Tokayev said that he appealed to the leaders of the CSTO countries for help in overcoming the terrorist threat in the country.
