Russia-led troops set to depart from Kazakhstan

Withdrawal should ‘take no more than 10 days’ as president criticises predecessor

Kazakhstan President KassymJomart Tokayev yesterday issued a rare criticism of his predecessor, and said he expected Russian-led troops to leave the Central Asian country in the next 10 days.

The unrest in the country has laid bare infighting at the very top of a government once dominated by Nursultan Nazarbayev, 81, who retains the constitutional status of “Leader of the Nation” despite stepping down from the presidency in 2019.

Addressing the government and parliament in a videoconference call, Tokayev, 68, fired a broadside at Nazarbayev as the country reels from violence that began with peaceful protests over an energy price rise.

He said Nazarbayev’s rule had created “a layer of wealthy people, even by international standards”.

“I believe the time has come to pay tribute to the people of Kazakhstan and help them on a systematic and regular basis,” Tokayev said, noting “very profitable companies” would be asked to pay money into a state fund.

Kazakhstan and Russia have framed last week’s unrest, which has left dozens dead and seen almost 10,000 people arrested, as a coup attempt assisted by foreign “terrorists”, but have given little evidence to support the claim.

After Tokayev’s request, the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) deployed troops to restore order.

Tokayev said “a phased withdrawal” would begin in two days and take “no more than 10 days”.

“The main mission of the CSTO peacekeeping forces has been successfully completed.”

The CSTO force of more than 2,000 troops was dispatched last week after armed clashes between government opponents and security forces and a looting spree that rendered parts of Almaty almost unrecognisable.

The decision was a first for the CSTO, often touted by Moscow as a Nato equivalent, as it was previously reluctant to interfere in any unrest in Central Asia, a region with long historical ties to Russia.

But concern has mounted that Moscow could leverage the mission to shore up its influence in Kazakhstan.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned last week “once Russians are in your house, it’s sometimes very difficult to get them to leave”.

Tokayev also appeared to further bolster his position by backing acting prime minister Alikhan Smailov to take on the job permanently – a nomination unanimously supported by lawmakers.

Tokayev also announced plans to end a widely criticised private recycling monopoly linked to the former president’s youngest daughter, Aliya Nazarbayeva, 41.

“This should be done by a state organisation, as is the case in foreign countries,” he said.