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Russia-led troops start withdrawing from Kazakhstan

January 13, 2022

Peacekeeping troops deployed under a Moscow-led regional military alliance have begun pulling back from Kazakhstan, officials said. They were deployed amid anti-government protests that left scores of people dead.

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A Russian peacekeeper guards the Druzhba [Friendship] water pump station in Kazakhstan
Around 2,000 troops were deployed to Kazakhstan under the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty OrganizationImage: Valery Sharifulin/TASS/picture alliance

Russia-led soldiers began withdrawing from Kazakhstan after being called in amid unprecedented unrest, Russia's Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

It was the first peacekeeping deployment for the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a regional military alliance led by Russia and comprised of six ex-Soviet states.

Around 2,000 soldiers were sent in after protests over fuel price hikes in the Central Asian country grew into larger anti-government protests that saw deadly clashes and thousands arrested.

What did Russia say?

In a statement published by Russian news agencies, the Defense Ministry said that troops that had been guarding key facilities in Kazakhstan began transferring over protection of the sites to local law enforcement.

The troops also started preparations to leave Kazakhstan and return to their home countries.

The "collective peacekeeping forces [...] are starting to prepare equipment and materiel for loading into the planes of the military transport aviation of the Russian aerospace forces and returning to the points of permanent deployment," the statement added.

The pullback is expected to be completed within 10 days.

CSTO troops deployed in Kazakhstan included soldiers from Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Why were the troops in Kazakhstan?

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev requested help from the military alliance after violent unrest rocked the former Soviet nation last week.

Protests against rising fuel prices broke out in Kazakhstan on January 2, before quickly spreading across the country.

The demonstrations evolved into wider discontent against President Tokayev's government.

The demonstrations turned violent last week. In Almaty, the former capital and largest city in Kazakhstan, protesters set fire to government buildings and briefly took control of the airport.

Tokayev announced a state of emergency and gave a shoot-to-kill order to security forces — sparking international outcry. 

The president also claimed the protests were sparked by foreign-backed "terrorists" but did not provide any evidence.

The Health Ministry briefly reported that over 160 people had been killed in the unrest, although the report was later deleted without a reason being provided. Dozens of people were also injured.

Around 12,000 people have been arrested in the aftermath of the demonstrations.

rs/fb (AFP, Interfax, AP)