10:18, 06 января 2022, Bishkek - 24.kg news agency , Tatyana KUDRYAVTSEVA
Appeal received from Nur-Sultan says that the situation in the country is regarded as an invasion of bandit groups trained abroad. This is stated in the comment of the CSTO Secretariat on the situation in Kazakhstan. RIA Novosti reports.
The organization’s secretariat confirmed the receipt of an appeal from the Kazakh side for assistance. It is specified that the Republic of Kazakhstan held consultations with members of the CSTO Collective Security Council, sent an appeal to the heads of state of the organization to provide military assistance to the republic.
«The Collective Security Council decided to send the collective peacekeeping forces of the CSTO to Kazakhstan for a limited period of time in order to stabilize and normalize the situation in the country,» the statement says.
Mass protests in Kazakhstan began in the first days of January 2022. Residents of Zhanaozen and Aktau in Mangistau region opposed the sharp rise in prices for liquefied gas. Protests began in other cities of the republic.
On January 4-5, clashes with security forces occurred in Almaty, the police used tear gas and stun grenades. The authorities turned off the Internet, and some TV channels temporarily stopped broadcasting.
The government resigned. The Chairman of the Security Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan was replaced, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev became a new chairman instead of Nursultan Nazarbayev.
The president declared a state of emergency in the country on January 5. A curfew was imposed from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. as well as a ban on mass events, strikes and sale of weapons. Security of especially important facilities has been strengthened.
On the night of January 6, the head of Kazakhstan held a meeting of the Security Council, at which he called the situation in the republic «undermining the integrity of the state». He said that he asked the CSTO for help «in overcoming the terrorist threat.»
The CSTO Collective Security Council decided to send peacekeeping troops to Kazakhstan.