Russian-led troops will begin withdrawing from Kazakhstan in two days, as the mission to control the protests that swept the country is complete, Kazakhstan’s president announced Tuesday.
The troops, mainly consisting of Russians, were deployed last week by the Collective Security Treaty Organization, an alliance of six former Soviet countries. The troops were deployed to help control protests that erupted in Kazakhstan on Jan. 2, 2022, over a sharp rise in fuel prices. With the help of the troops, the protests were quelled by the weekend.
“When this decision was being made, we could have completely lost control over Almaty, which was being torn apart by terrorists. Had we lost Almaty, we would have lost the capital and the entire country,” Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev told parliament Tuesday, according to ABC News.
Tokayev added the withdrawal of the 2,500 troops would take no more than 10 days to complete.
DOZENS OF PROTESTERS AND 12 POLICE DEAD AMID RISING UNREST IN KAZAKHSTAN
Members of Kazakhstan’s government resigned in an attempt to end the deadly protests. Although the increase in fuel prices triggered the protests, anti-government sentiments showed larger disapproval of the current government. Tokayev appointed a new prime minister Tuesday, selecting Alikhan Smailov to fill the role. Smailov had previously served as the minister of finance and deputy prime minister.
Almaty, the nation’s former capital and largest city, was hit the hardest by the violent protests. According to Kazakh officials, 164 people were killed during the week, with 103 dying in Almaty. Another 2,200 people reportedly sought medical treatment for injuries caused during the protests, including 1,300 security officers. Businesses are beginning to reopen in Almaty, and shopping malls and public transportation are returning to normal.
Sixteen members of the police and national guard were also killed in the protests. It is unclear if the law enforcement deaths were included in the reported 164 deaths.
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Approximately 9,900 people were detained over the unrest and 338 criminal investigations have been launched, according to Kazakhstan’s Interior Ministry.
