Russian troops arrive in Kazakhstan after President President has called for help to end protests

Russian troops and allied forces begin arriving in Kazakhstan on Thursday after the country’s president called for help to end protests that have left many dead from police brutality.

A handful of Russian paratroopers, including troops from Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, were sent as peacekeepers at the request of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the Collective Security Treaty Organization, led by Russia. military alliance.

A video distributed by Russia’s Defense Ministry on Thursday showed several soldiers boarding a military plane that took off for Kazakhstan. The coalition’s strategists should focus on “protecting the interests of the state and the military, as well as supporting Kazakh law enforcement,” the agreement said.

Major buildings at risk include gas pipelines and other nuclear weapons in Kazakhstan, an oil exporter, and central Russia in Baikonur. Moscow also has several military bases in the country, including a large-scale ballistic missile test.

It is the first component of the CSTO alliance, which has all-team protection and regular exercise, since its inception twenty years ago.

Parts of the Russian army in central Asia “have begun to carry out their duties,” a memorandum of understanding was added.

It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. Armenia is sending 70 troops, while Tajikistan is sending 200, RIA reports said. He could stay in the country for a month, Interfax reported, citing a second statement from Russia’s parliamentary defense committee.

The CSTO delegation is a test of Russia’s ability to “support the stability of its allies without segregation,” wrote Dmitri Trenin, director of the Carnegie Moscow Center. While there are many traps, it could be “a huge advantage if Moscow wins”, he added.

Tatiana Stanovaya, political founder R Politik, said the overwhelming participation from CSTO allies did not reach more than 3,500 troops. As for Russia, “it has chosen to participate figuratively but [its forces] will be there to protect the infrastructure, ”he said. “Russia does not want to interfere. . . It does not condone the abuses of the local government. ”

The demonstrations, which began this week, took place mainly in the country’s largest city, Almaty, as well as many smaller cities in western Kazakhstan. Angered by rising oil prices, they quickly grew into political demonstrations, with cars and houses burned down, including the presidential palace and the mayor’s office in Almaty.

After making several resolutions on Wednesday – including ousting the government and ousting longtime caretaker Nursultan Nazarbayev from high security – Tokayev announced his end to the protests, setting up a state of emergency and calling for foreign aid.

Dozens of people were killed in riots in Almaty overnight, police in the city said. The Witnesses said there was a shooting at night. Kazakh health ministry says more than 1,000 people have been injured.

Internet access was restored slightly Thursday, after it was cut almost nationwide Wednesday. But the government has ordered banks to close and extend the winter holidays until January 17.

Kazakhstan reopened its borders for foreign nationals on Thursday, the RIA news agency said, citing the ambassador’s remarks.

It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post.

Several flights suspended flights to Almaty and Nur-Sultan, the capital of Kazakh.

Some passengers who were due to leave Wednesday were evacuated to a nearby village, said Evgeny, who was on vacation from the Russian city of Magadan. He had to fly to the airport but did not know much because the internet was blocked.

“Suddenly, everyone started running,” he told the Financial Times, describing the situation at the airport. We did not know what was going on, but we were told that terrorists had taken over the airport. Passengers were initially transferred to a nearby warehouse.

Kazakh government on Thursday resumed control of oil prices, diesel fuel and petroleum gas for 180 days, state media said, in an attempt to appease protesters.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Moscow would “continue to hold talks with Kazakhstan and other CSTO agencies to investigate and, if necessary, develop additional mechanisms to assist Kazakhstan’s law enforcement agencies in the fight against terrorism”.

Kremlin intervention to help allies in crisis