Five CSTO allies sent peacekeeping forces at Kazakhstan’s request as it deals with mass unrest
A peacekeeping mission of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) has been deployed to Kazakhstan as the nation struggles to control street violence. Here are the goals and the scope of the multinational mission.
The bloc is headquartered in Moscow, Russia, but is chaired in turns by the leader of each member country, in what is known as a rotating presidency. It makes decisions on a consensual basis. Member states hold joint military drills every year, and can’t be part of other military blocs, such as NATO.
The CSTO deployed a joint peacekeeping mission to Kazakhstan this week, with each country’s units arriving separately on Thursday and Friday.
Mass protests based on economic grievances began in the country at the start of the new year, after a sharp hike in liquefied petroleum gas prices. However, despite the government’s concessions, they were soon seemingly hijacked by groups demanding regime change, as well as bands of violent rioters and looters. Kazakh law enforcement appeared to be unable to cope with the escalating violence.
The call for help was acknowledged by the CSTO within hours after Tokayev made his plea. Late on Wednesday, the incumbent chairman of the bloc, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, confirmed that help would be sent.
Russian military personnel and hardware were the first to arrive in Kazakhstan on Thursday. Belarus deployed a peacekeeping company task force on Friday, airlifting it into the country through Russia.
Tajikistan peacekeepers have joined the CSTO forces sent to Kazakhstan, while the country’s crisis continues. pic.twitter.com/2MjwQtDR8Y
Russia also has several sites of strategic importance that it leases from Kazakhstan, such as the famed Baikonur Cosmodrome. While it has not been confirmed whether any peacekeepers would be deployed to Baikonur, local authorities have ramped up the “terrorist threat” level and introduced certain restrictions, and self-defense patrols have been formed locally.
https://ift.tt/2i4b67e 08, 2022 at 02:39AM
from RT – Daily news
