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Kazakhstan

Russia-Led CSTO Troops Begin Withdrawal From Kazakhstan

Updated
Russian troops from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) board a homebound flight at Almaty International Airport.
Russian troops from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) board a homebound flight at Almaty International Airport.

NUR-SULTAN -- Troops from the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) have begun to withdraw from Kazakhstan after being called in to help stabilize the Central Asian nation following deadly unrest sparked by a fuel price hike amid an apparent standoff with loyalists of former President Nursultan Nazarbaev.

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," said a Russian Defense Ministry statement carried by Russian news agencies.

The CSTO -- an alliance comprised of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, and Tajikistan -- have said the pullout should take about 10 days to complete, though Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on January 13 that it may take only seven days to finish.

Aftermath: Peacekeepers And Destruction In Kazakhstan

Russian troops from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) board a homebound flight at Almaty International Airport. The withdrawal of the Russia-led peacekeeping mission began on January 13, a week after massive protests and violence swept Kazakhstan. 
1/20 Russian troops from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) board a homebound flight at Almaty International Airport. The withdrawal of the Russia-led peacekeeping mission began on January 13, a week after massive protests and violence swept Kazakhstan. 
Scenes of foreign troops and fire damage in Almaty, one week after the massive unrest that swept Kazakhstan, sparked by a hike in gas prices.
A fire-damaged building and sculpture on Almaty's central square on January 11. 
2/20 A fire-damaged building and sculpture on Almaty's central square on January 11. 
Scenes of foreign troops and fire damage in Almaty, one week after the massive unrest that swept Kazakhstan, sparked by a hike in gas prices.
Belarusian CSTO peacekeepers in Almaty during the official withdrawal ceremony from Kazakhstan on January 13. 
3/20 Belarusian CSTO peacekeepers in Almaty during the official withdrawal ceremony from Kazakhstan on January 13. 
Scenes of foreign troops and fire damage in Almaty, one week after the massive unrest that swept Kazakhstan, sparked by a hike in gas prices.
The fire-damaged Kazakh national emblem on Almaty's city hall on January 11. 
4/20 The fire-damaged Kazakh national emblem on Almaty's city hall on January 11. 
Scenes of foreign troops and fire damage in Almaty, one week after the massive unrest that swept Kazakhstan, sparked by a hike in gas prices.
Armenian CSTO peacekeepers guarding a water-pumping facility in Almaty on January 12. 
5/20 Armenian CSTO peacekeepers guarding a water-pumping facility in Almaty on January 12. 
Scenes of foreign troops and fire damage in Almaty, one week after the massive unrest that swept Kazakhstan, sparked by a hike in gas prices.
Blood inside a bullet-riddled car in Almaty on January 10. 
6/20 Blood inside a bullet-riddled car in Almaty on January 10. 
Scenes of foreign troops and fire damage in Almaty, one week after the massive unrest that swept Kazakhstan, sparked by a hike in gas prices.
Tajik CSTO peacekeepers at a power plant at an unspecified location on January 10. 
7/20 Tajik CSTO peacekeepers at a power plant at an unspecified location on January 10. 
Scenes of foreign troops and fire damage in Almaty, one week after the massive unrest that swept Kazakhstan, sparked by a hike in gas prices.
Locals look at the charred city hall building in Almaty's central square on January 11. 
8/20 Locals look at the charred city hall building in Almaty's central square on January 11. 
Scenes of foreign troops and fire damage in Almaty, one week after the massive unrest that swept Kazakhstan, sparked by a hike in gas prices.
A Kyrgyz CSTO peacekeeper standing guard outside a power plant in Almaty on January 11.
9/20 A Kyrgyz CSTO peacekeeper standing guard outside a power plant in Almaty on January 11.
Scenes of foreign troops and fire damage in Almaty, one week after the massive unrest that swept Kazakhstan, sparked by a hike in gas prices.
A detail of a public monument in Almaty depicting Kazakhstan's first president, Nursultan Nazarbaev, which was smeared with mud during the recent protests. 
10/20 A detail of a public monument in Almaty depicting Kazakhstan's first president, Nursultan Nazarbaev, which was smeared with mud during the recent protests. 
Scenes of foreign troops and fire damage in Almaty, one week after the massive unrest that swept Kazakhstan, sparked by a hike in gas prices.
A woman glances at a Russian CSTO peacekeeper in Almaty on January 11. 
11/20 A woman glances at a Russian CSTO peacekeeper in Almaty on January 11. 
Scenes of foreign troops and fire damage in Almaty, one week after the massive unrest that swept Kazakhstan, sparked by a hike in gas prices.
An electronics store that was looted during the unrest, photographed on January 9. 
12/20 An electronics store that was looted during the unrest, photographed on January 9. 
Scenes of foreign troops and fire damage in Almaty, one week after the massive unrest that swept Kazakhstan, sparked by a hike in gas prices.
Armenian military vehicles photographed in Almaty on January 12. 
13/20 Armenian military vehicles photographed in Almaty on January 12. 
Scenes of foreign troops and fire damage in Almaty, one week after the massive unrest that swept Kazakhstan, sparked by a hike in gas prices.
Two people browse on their phones in front of Almaty's charred city hall on January 12. 
14/20 Two people browse on their phones in front of Almaty's charred city hall on January 12. 
Scenes of foreign troops and fire damage in Almaty, one week after the massive unrest that swept Kazakhstan, sparked by a hike in gas prices.
Kazakh troops guard an airport outside Almaty on January 11. 
15/20 Kazakh troops guard an airport outside Almaty on January 11. 
Scenes of foreign troops and fire damage in Almaty, one week after the massive unrest that swept Kazakhstan, sparked by a hike in gas prices.
The badly damaged Almaty headquarters of Kazakhstan's ruling Nur Otan party office. The photo was made on January 8 but released by Reuters on January 12.
16/20 The badly damaged Almaty headquarters of Kazakhstan's ruling Nur Otan party office. The photo was made on January 8 but released by Reuters on January 12.
Scenes of foreign troops and fire damage in Almaty, one week after the massive unrest that swept Kazakhstan, sparked by a hike in gas prices.
Tajik CSTO troops guard an unspecified location in Almaty on January 11. 
17/20 Tajik CSTO troops guard an unspecified location in Almaty on January 11. 
Scenes of foreign troops and fire damage in Almaty, one week after the massive unrest that swept Kazakhstan, sparked by a hike in gas prices.
Damaged ATM machines and payment kiosks in Almaty on January 9. 
18/20 Damaged ATM machines and payment kiosks in Almaty on January 9. 
Scenes of foreign troops and fire damage in Almaty, one week after the massive unrest that swept Kazakhstan, sparked by a hike in gas prices.
Armenian CSTO peacekeepers stationed outside a bakery in Almaty on January 11. 
19/20 Armenian CSTO peacekeepers stationed outside a bakery in Almaty on January 11. 
Scenes of foreign troops and fire damage in Almaty, one week after the massive unrest that swept Kazakhstan, sparked by a hike in gas prices.
A heavily damaged police kiosk in Almaty on January 8. 
20/20 A heavily damaged police kiosk in Almaty on January 8. 
Scenes of foreign troops and fire damage in Almaty, one week after the massive unrest that swept Kazakhstan, sparked by a hike in gas prices.
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The CSTO troops arrived in Kazakhstan last week after President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev declared a state of emergency on January 5 and asked the bloc for military assistance when the protests turned deadly, with security personnel and mobs clashing on city streets nationwide.

The exact number of people killed in the violence remains unclear. Although the official death toll was announced as 164, Toqaev has said hundreds of civilians and security forces were killed and injured.

Toqaev claimed that "foreign-trained terrorists" were behind the protests in an attempt to overthrow the government. But analysts say there appears to be an internal power struggle between the president and followers of Nazarbaev, who has remained a powerful figure in the country since handpicking Toqaev as his successor in 2019.

After dismissing the cabinet, Toqaev removed the 81-year-old Nazarbaev as head of the National Security Council, a powerful position from which the longtime leader continued to exert considerable influence over the oil-rich Central Asian nation.

Toqaev also fired the head of the country’s National Security Committee (KNB), longtime Nazarbaev ally Karim Masimov, and then had him arrested on a charge of high treason. Several other security officials were also detained.

The KNB said in statement on January 13 that Masimov is being investigated for "actions aimed at forcibly seizing power."

According to the statement, Masimov's former deputies, Daulet Erghozhin and Anuar Sadyqulov, have been also arrested in conjunction with the case.

Toqaev sought to reassure citizens that he was working toward economic stability, ordering the central bank and the financial regulations agency to ensure foreign exchange market stability in order to build confidence in the local currency -- the tenge.

With reporting by AFP and TASS
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