The CSTO peacekeeping contingent will remain in Kazakhstan for a limited period and will be withdrawn from the republic after fulfilling its tasks. Russian President Vladimir Putin said this at an extraordinary session of the CSTO Collective Security Council.
“A contingent of CSTO collective peacekeeping forces has been sent to Kazakhstan, and I want to emphasize this — for a limited period, for as long as the President of Kazakhstan, the head of state, the leader of Kazakhstan, deems its deployment possible,” Putin said. “After fulfilling its tasks, of course, the entire contingent will be withdrawn from the territory of Kazakhstan,” the Russian leader added.
Putin called the CSTO peacekeeping operation in Kazakhstan extremely timely and lawful. In the case of Kazakhstan, the CSTO has in practice demonstrated its potential, its ability to act quickly, decisively and effectively, the Russian leader said.
As the President noted, Russia understands that the threat to Kazakhstan arose not from spontaneous protest actions, but from external and internal destructive forces. “We understand that the threat to Kazakhstan’s statehood arose not because of spontaneous protests against fuel prices, but because of internal and external destructive forces taking advantage of the situation,” Putin said.
He stated that the implementation of color revolution scenarios cannot be allowed. “We will not allow the situation to develop in our home, we will not allow color revolution scenarios to be implemented. This is neither the first nor the last attempt at external interference,” Putin emphasized.
