This was stated by the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Aibek Smadiyarov, writes Kommersant.
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) — this is a defense bloc, which includes Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan.
Earlier it was reported that during the January protests in Kazakhstan, the President of the republic Kassym-Jomart Tokayev resorted to the help of the CSTO forces to suppress popular riots: the country's own forces were not enough to suppress mass riots.
At the official request of Kazakhstan, Russia sent its military units to the republic. In particular, it was reported about the dispatch of Kostroma and Ivanovo paratroopers to Kazakhstan. After the normalization of the situation, Russia withdrew its troops from Kazakhstan.
Subsequently, against the background of the aggravation of the international situation in connection with the beginning of the military operation of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine, it became known about the appearance in Kazakhstan of a petition for the republic's withdrawal from the CSTO. Armenia also announced the possibility of withdrawing from the CSTO.