Military transport aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces have taken out 2,095 Russians and foreigners from Kazakhstan amid unrest in the country, the Defense Ministry reported.
“In total, 2095 Russian and foreign citizens were delivered from the Republic of Kazakhstan to Russia by the aircraft of the military transport aviation of the Military Space Forces (VKS) of Russia. On January 11, 376 Russian citizens were delivered from the Republic of Kazakhstan to Moscow by military transport aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces, ”the ministry said (quoted by RIA Novosti).
The report says that the Russians came to Alma-Ata for the New Year holidays on a trip or to visit relatives. Due to the riots and the closure of the airport, they could not fly to Russia and remained in hotels.
The evacuation of citizens from Kazakhstan was required against the background of unrest in the country. Street demonstrations began in western Kazakhstan on January 2 due to a sharp increase in prices for liquefied gas, after which they spread to large cities. The peacekeeping forces of the CSTO took part in resolving the situation (in addition to Kazakhstan, it includes Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan). On the eve of the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev announced the completion of the CSTO mission. In two days, a phased withdrawal of the united peacekeeping contingent will begin, this will take no more than 10 days. Peacekeepers have been in the country since January 6.
According to the president, the responsibility for what is happening lies with international terrorist groups and the attack is planned. As of January 11, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, nearly 10,000 people were detained during the riots. Until January 19, a state of emergency is in effect on the territory of the republic.
.