Russian peacekeepers have been deployed to Almaty, the focal point of violent protests that have swept through Kazakhstan since a two-fold hike in fuel prices. A team from RT recorded them on their dangerous mission.
The Russian troops are authorized to use their weapons, but their main task will be guarding key infrastructure in the largest Kazakh city, including the international airport, which was attacked by rioters last week, RT’s Murad Gazdiev reported from the scene.
Restoring order in the city of two million, where armed gangs still roam the streets, torching vehicles and looting shops, will remain the task of the local security forces.
Kazakh president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev requested assistance from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) on Wednesday, after government buildings were overrun by angry crowds in Almaty and elsewhere in the country.