Nikol Pashinyan Discusses Situation in Kazakhstan with Stanislav Zas

The Secretary General of the CSTO, Stanislav Zas, discussed the situation in Kazakhstan with the President of the Collective Security Council, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan.

According to a report by Armenpress, the Secretary General had a phone conversation on January 6, 2022, in which he informed Pashinyan about the current status in Kazakhstan and the implementation of the Collective Security Council's decision to send CSTO collective peacekeeping forces to stabilize and resolve the situation.

Pashinyan stated that, based on the request of the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and due to threats to Kazakhstan's national security and sovereignty, which have arisen partly due to external interference, the Collective Security Council decided to send CSTO collective peacekeeping forces to Kazakhstan for a limited period to help stabilize and resolve the situation.

Mass protests in Kazakhstan began on January 2, starting with residents of Zhanaozen and Aktau voicing their discontent over rising gas prices. Subsequently, protests spread across the country. Authorities announced a review of gas prices, but the situation in the country did not stabilize. In light of the protests, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared that he would now lead Kazakhstan's Security Council.