The introduction of peacekeepers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) the visit to Kazakhstan was timely. This was announced on Friday, January 14, by the Secretary General of the organization Stanislav Zas.
"The input was very timely. I believe that the appeal of the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev for assistance to the CSTO - it absolutely corresponded to the situation, the difficult situation that was developing in Kazakhstan on that day," Zas said on the Rossiya 24 channel.
Zas noted that during the operation in Kazakhstan, the peacekeepers had no conflicts with the local population.
"The peacekeepers themselves, who arrived in Kazakhstan on such an urgent basis, they flew there with a clear understanding that they were flying to a friendly country, that they were flying to the country not to fight, but to ensure peace and security," the Secretary General of the organization added.
The CSTO Secretary General added that the peacekeepers did not interfere in the internal affairs of Kazakhstan in any way. He noted that the peacekeepers were ready to participate in military operations, but no such request was received.
Earlier in the day, Zas noted that the appearance of peacekeepers entailed "some kind of sobering effect" in the republic, and suggested that "some hotheads have cooled down, realizing that nothing will pass there."
Earlier, on January 13, Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a working meeting with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, said that the CSTO peacekeeping forces played a very important role in stabilizing the situation in Kazakhstan. Shoigu said that the withdrawal of the peacekeeping contingent of the CSTO countries should be completed on January 19.
On January 2, protests began in Kazakhstan due to rising prices for liquefied natural gas. In some cities, the rallies turned into riots. The situation has especially worsened in the largest city of the country — Alma-Ata.
Radical rioters broke into the administration building, set fire to the prosecutor's office, the office of the ruling party and seized the presidential residence.
According to the President of the Republic Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, those who seized government institutions are groups of terrorists who have received serious training abroad. The commandant's office of Alma-Ata also stated that the brutal actions of the attackers indicate the terrorist and extremist nature of the gangs.
For help in overcoming the terrorist threat, the President of the republic turned to the CSTO (which includes Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Armenia). Collective peacekeeping forces were sent to Kazakhstan, which secured a number of strategic facilities. On January 12, the CSTO peacekeeping operation in Kazakhstan was completed. According to the leader of the republic, the stay of the CSTO peacekeepers allowed to stabilize the situation in the country, the mission's activities were very successful.
