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Kazakhstan

Russia-Led Military Alliance Completes Withdrawal From Kazakhstan

On January 19, Almaty authorities beefed up security in the city, increasing the number of police in the streets.
On January 19, Almaty authorities beefed up security in the city, increasing the number of police in the streets.

Troops of the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) have completed their withdrawal from Kazakhstan, where they were invited by the Central Asian nation's government in the wake of deadly protests in the country's largest city, Almaty, in early January.

Russia's ambassador to Kazakhstan, Aleksei Borodavkin, and General Andrei Serdyukov, who led the CSTO mission in Kazakhstan, said on January 19 that the "peacekeeping operation" was over and that "all" troops had left the former Soviet republic.

Russian, Armenian, Kyrgyz, and Tajik troops were sent to Kazakhstan after small protests against a fuel-price increase in the remote town of Zhanaozen sparked mass anti-government protests across the oil-rich country and led to deadly clashes in Almaty and elsewhere.

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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Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev said at the time that "20,000 terrorists trained abroad" attacked Almaty, and invited troops from CSTO member states to the country to "stabilize" the situation.

Toqaev has not revealed any evidence of "terrorists" being in the country or of fomenting the protests.

Kazakh officials said that 227 people, including 19 law enforcement officers, were killed during the protests.

Human rights activists say the number of dead may be much higher as scores of people have been missing since the unrest.

On January 19, Almaty authorities beefed up security in the city, increasing the number of police in the streets, as exiled opposition politician Mukhtar Ablyazov called on Kazakh citizens to hold protest rallies on that day in Almaty and other towns and cities.

Based on reporting by TASS, Interfax, and RFE/RL's Kazakh Service
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