MOSCOW, January 8. /TASS/. The decisions taken by the Kazakh leadership to keep public order in the republic were well-argued, CIS Executive Secretary Sergey Lebedev said in a statement released on Saturday.
"Personally I, all colleagues from our integration structures wholly support the steps being taken by the leadership of Kazakhstan and CSTO member states to protect the constitutional order and restore public order in the republic," he said, adding that "the decisions made by the Kazakh leadership aimed at keeping public order, peace and stability, are deemed well-timed and well-argued."
"It is obvious today that destructive elements prepared for mass protests aimed at destabilizing the situation in the country beforehand, received support from abroad," Lebedev noted.
Meanwhile, not only CSTO member states, but other countries of the Commonwealth welcome the measures taken by the Kazakh authorities as well, CIS Executive Secretary said. "The CIS Executive Committee informs on its Internet resources in detail about the statements and solidary actions abroad supporting the efforts of the Kazakh leadership to get the country back to peace," he emphasized.
Protests erupted in several Kazakh cities on January 2, turning into mass riots and attacks on government buildings in many cities several days later. Thousands were injured, with fatalities also reported. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev asked help from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Peacekeepers have already been deployed to Kazakhstan. According to the Kazakh authorities, law and order have been restored in all of the country’s regions by the morning of January 7. However, the situation remains difficult in Almaty.