Russian President Vladimir Putin held a working meeting with his Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu, during which the Minister presented the activities of the CSTO peacekeeping force in Kazakhstan.

The official website of the Kremlin was reported.

Shoigu stressed that Armenia, as the CSTO presiding country, should have played the main role in in the preparation of all documentary decisions, and all that has been done. In due time and in a very short time, the CSTO peacekeeping forces were deployed in Kazakhstan, taking control of 14 objects of special importance.

“They are facilities responsible for ensuring communication, energy, state vitality and efficiency. At the request of the Kazakh leadership and on your instructions, a number of facilities have been taken under control, which pose a serious threat in case if the terrorists’ would have control over them,” Shoigu said.

The Russian Defense Minister stressed that at the moment the government is stable, the CSTO peacekeeping forces are working in full cooperation.

“We have confirmed the decision to phase out the troops and hand over the facilities to Kazakhstan. Withdrawal starts today. Tomorrow we will withdraw the peacekeeping forces of our partners – Armenia, Tajikistan and Belarus – by 14 planes. It is planned to complete all the work on 19 January,” he added.

Vladimir Putin noted that the CSTO peacekeeping forces have played a very important role in stabilizing the situation in Kazakhstan.

“It is very important that the situation was resolved with the help of the CSTO. This was, in fact, the first such operation by the CSTO forces. We worked together to solve a very important problem. We were able to quickly concentrate all the necessary forces and resources. Everything worked like clock: quickly, smoothly and efficiently,” the RF President added.