Russian Troops to Start Withdrawing From Kazakhstan in 2 Days, Says Kazakh President

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev greets Russian President Vladimir Putin before the informal annual summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) at the presidential residence of Konstantin Palace in Strelna, outside St. Petersburg, Russia, on Dec. 28, 2021. Yevgeny BiyatovI/AFP via Getty Images

Troops from a Russia-aligned group who flew to Kazakhstan last week following serious unrest in the Central Asian nation will start withdrawing in two days after completing its mission, the president announced on Tuesday.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev requested help from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a military alliance of six former Soviet states, for international support on Jan. 6 after nationwide protests erupted into violence.