The statement by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev that Russian-led soldiers had completed their duty in the country following major unrest was welcomed by the State Department on Tuesday.
Tokayev stated that after stabilising the Central Asian nation, forces from the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) will begin withdrawing from the country in two days. find out more
"Until that process is completed, until the CSTO peacekeeping forces are withdrawn," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters, "we will continue to call on all collective security treaty organisations, collective peace-keeping forces to respect international human rights and to uphold their commitment to depart Kazakhstan as soon as the government of Kazakhstan has requested."