Chinese-led Shanghai Cooperation Organisation ‘ready to act in Kazakhstan if needed’
- Despite the offer, Beijing has also signalled its approval of Russia’s intervention and the Kazakh government’s response
- President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has authorised troops to shoot protesters and asked Moscow to send in troops
The pledge from the group came as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that Kazakhstan would find it difficult to reduce Russian influence after inviting in troops to quell unrest.
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Russian troops arrive in Kazakhstan as president issues ‘fire without warning’ order
Following days of violence, Kazakhstan’s domestic intelligence agency said its former head Karim Mosimov had been detained after it launched an investigation into charges of high treason. Mosimov was sacked earlier this week.
The initial cause of the protests was a spike in prices for compressed gas in the country’s western energy heartland, but President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said the protesters are “bandits and terrorists” and authorised his forces to shoot without warning.
Russia’s defence ministry said nine planes carrying paratroopers and hardware had landed in Almaty and its forces had helped to secure the airport.