In an extraordinary meeting of the CSTO Collective Security Council, held via videoconference, Putin stressed that each of the allies contributed to the fulfillment of the tasks assigned as part of that military group made up of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.

He pointed out that the units of all participating countries, without exception, are already in Kazakhstan and are carrying out operations aimed at protecting vital objectives for the Kazakh State.

“This testifies that the long-term and arduous work carried out within the framework of the CSTO to form a comprehensive security system of the participating States, including the collective peacekeeping forces of the CSTO, is paying off,” Putin stressed.

According to Putin, during the events of recent days Kazakhstan faced the aggression of international terrorism.

“Where did these gangs of armed people come from, trained in foreign centers and, clearly, with experience in combat operations in troubled areas of the world?” he asked.

The Russian head of state said that the CSTO countries must be prepared to repel any provocation and called that “the tragic events that Kazakhstan is going through today do not take us by surprise from now on.”

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