Criminals from overseas swooped in on the unrest unfolding in Kazakhstan last month, when protests attended by thousands subsequently turned violent and left over 200 people dead, Russian President Vladimir Putin has alleged.
Speaking ahead of talks with Kazakh leader Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, earlier this week, his first visit abroad since the mass protests, Putin set out his view of the events that took place in the Central Asian nation at the beginning of the year.
“This is our first meeting after the January events, when Kazakhstan became, without any exaggeration, a victim of some international gangs who took advantage of the difficult situation in the country,” the Russian president said.