The peacekeeping contingent will stay in Kazakhstan for a limited period, after performing its functions it will be withdrawn from the republic, President Vladimir Putin said.
Putin called the CSTO peacekeeping operation in Kazakhstan extremely timely and legitimate. In the case of Kazakhstan, the CSTO has demonstrated its real potential, its ability to act quickly, decisively and effectively, the Russian leader said. The commander of the CSTO peacekeeping contingent in Kazakhstan, General Serdyukov, knows his job, Putin said.
Russia understands that the threat to Kazakhstan was not caused by spontaneous protests, but by those who took up arms, Putin said. According to him, Kazakhstan faced international terrorism. In Kazakhstan, technologies known from the "Maidan" were used for forceful informational support of the unrest, he said. Putin said he fully agreed with the assertion that Kazakhstan was subjected to aggression during the unrest.
The situation in Kazakhstan is gradually normalizing, a number of vital facilities have been completely cleared of militants, Putin said. He is confident that through joint efforts, the situation throughout Kazakhstan will be stabilized in the near future. Putin said Kazakh authorities would do everything possible to ensure law enforcement and the economy of Kazakhstan would work smoothly.
CSTO countries have shown that they will not allow the situation at home to be rocked, and to implement "color revolutions," Putin said. The situation in Kazakhstan is not the first attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of the CSTO, said the president.
Putin suggested instructing the secretaries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization summits to submit proposals for joint countermeasures against attempts of external interference. The CSTO countries must be ready to respond to any provocations, so that tragedies like those in Kazakhstan would not catch anyone unawares in the future, Putin said. According to him, Russia intends to continue prioritizing the strengthening of relations with all CSTO countries.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS