MINSK, 10 January (BelTA) - The leaders of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) observed a minute of silence in memory of those killed during the protests in Kazakhstan at a special session of the CSTO Collective Security Council on 10 January, BelTA has learned.
Kazakhstan declared a national day of mourning on 10 January. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, as Chairman of the Collective Security Council, opened the summit inviting the heads of state to observe a minute of silence in memory of those killed as a result of the protests.
Nikol Pashinyan explained that the main issue on the agenda of the session of the Collective Security Council was the situation in Kazakhstan and the discussion of measures to normalize it.
“In view of the emerging situation in the country, which threatens to further escalate, the president of Kazakhstan officially addressed the CSTO Collective Security Council. Based on the relevant appeal, in accordance with the Collective Security Treaty and the CSTO Charter, acting strictly in accordance with the functions of the current CSTO chairman, I have launched a mechanism of consultations with the leaders of the CSTO member states,” the Armenian prime minister said.
In his words, taking into account Kazakhstan's official address and the tendency for rapid development of the situation, as well as in view of the threat to security stability and the sovereignty of the country, the CSTO countries sent their peacekeepers to Kazakhstan in order to normalize the situation in Kazakhstan. They have gone to Kazakhstan for a limited period of time to protect strategically important facilities.
