The Peacekeeping Force Will Be Completely Withdrawn from Kazakhstan by January 19: Zas

The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) peacekeeping forces will be fully withdrawn from Kazakhstan by January 19. This was announced on Saturday by CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas during a broadcast on the Belarus-1 television channel.

“Within almost a week, all units and personnel will be withdrawn to their permanent deployment points, and if the weather does not interfere, according to the plans of the Russian Ministry of Defense, it is expected that everyone will be returned to their permanent deployment points by January 19,” stated the CSTO Secretary General.

He emphasized that the entire peacekeeping force will be withdrawn from the territory of Kazakhstan. “This is exactly the task set by the leaders of our states as a joint decision of the Collective Security Council to complete this operation,” reminded the CSTO Secretary General.

Zas added that “the arrival of peacekeepers in Kazakhstan has sobered up some 'hotheads,' perhaps undermined certain ideas and plans.” He noted, “This is the assessment of the people who work in Kazakhstan. Thus, the arrival of peacekeepers contributed to this turnaround in the situation and stabilization,” said the organization’s Secretary General.

At the same time, he drew attention to the fact that “the Kazakh president's request for the entry of the CSTO contingent into the republic is absolutely in line with the powers given to him in this country and is adequate to the situation that was developing in the state.”