Peacekeeping forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) has entered Kazakhstan on Thursday and an advanced unit from the Russian contingent have already begun to fulfill their tasks.
The CSTO Secretariat said the Kazakh side appealed for military assistance and the CSTO Collective Peacekeeping Forces will be sent to the country for a limited time to stabilize and normalize the situation.
CSTO said the collective forces included subdivisions of the armed forces of Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan and the main tasks will be the protection of important state and military facilities, assistance to the forces of law and order of the Republic of Kazakhstan in stabilizing the situation.
Security forces enhance measures around the presidential palace in Kazakh capital Nur Sultan, January 5, 2022. The move came after Kazakhstan declared a state of emergency following nationwide protests against fuel price increase. /CFP
All financial organizations in Kazakhstan have suspended activities, RIA news reported quoting a national bank spokesperson on Thursday.
The Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport in the capital city Nul Sultan canceled all flights until midday Thursday local time, according to the report.
Authorities in Kazakhstan declared a nationwide state of emergency on Wednesday, promising a tough crackdown as mass unrest plunges the country into chaos.