Kazakhstan finds some peace: Foreign troops removed but the dilemma remains as if Nursultan stayed behind the riots

Over 2,00 troops from the Association of Collective Security Treaty (CSTO) have begun withdrawing from Kazakhstan, announced Russia, which heads the organisation.

According to Russia, the withdrawal is taking place due to the stabilisation of the situation in Kazakhstan, following the outbreak of deadly riots prompted by rising fuel prices.

But the reason behind the riots seems to be the battle between current power and the faithful of the former Kazakh president, Nursultan Nazarbaev.

“collective peacekeeping forces are starting to prepare equipment and materials to be placed on Russian Air Force military planes and return to their permanent delocation points”, the Russian Defence Ministry said through a statement to the media.

CSTO alliance consisting of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia and Tajikistan said through an announcement on January 12th that the troop withdrawal process from Kazakhstan is expected to end within ten days.

The bodies of the Association for Kolektive Security arrived in Kazakhstan last week, at the request of Kazakh President Sasym-Zhomart Toqaev. He declared a state of emergency in the country on January 5th and sought the aid of this organization because the protests were distributed to cities throughout the country.