US conveys support for Kazakhstan’s constitutional institutions

Washington, Jan 6 (EFE).- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday conveyed to his Kazakh counterpart, Mukhtar Tileuberdi, his country’s support “for Kazakhstan’s constitutional institutions and media freedom.”

State Department Spokesman Ned Price said in a press release that the two top diplomats spoke on a telephone call, in which Blinken “advocated for a peaceful, rights-respecting resolution to the crisis” in the Central Asian country.

Blinken also told the Kazakh minister that European stability is a “priority” for Washington, which includes U.S. support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity “in response to Russian aggression.”

Kazakhstan, with the support of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a military alliance grouping six former Soviet republics, including Russia, is seeking to put an end to serious unrest that has shaken the country in recent days.

Demonstrations, which were initially peaceful, began on January 2 in protest against a significant hike in liquefied gas prices, the main automotive fuel used in the country.

However, two days later the protests escalated into violence, questioning the capacity of police and the army to control the situation.

Faced with this scenario, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev assumed control of the Security Council and requested assistance from the CSTO, to which the organization agreed. EFE

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