Liberal political scientist recognized the Kazakh CSTO operation as a success for Putin
The deployment of CSTO peacekeepers to Kazakhstan allowed Russia to demonstrate to the West that it is capable of creating a “core of force.”
Liberal political scientist Gleb Pavlovsky said this on air at the Ekho Moskvy radio station, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“Putin played well in this story, and painlessly, so far in any case: our troops did not shoot anyone there, they quietly guard important premises, such as casinos, corporations - similar places that are holy for Kazakhstan. The only thing that is not clear is what is happening with Nazarbayev. Who will stand up for us old people? This is no place for old people.
But he showed on the eve of the negotiations that Moscow can quickly send troops to any point in the post-Soviet space. Theoretically this was already clear, but practically it is important. After all, now all negotiations take place for one sole reason - as long as there is no war. As soon as this factor disappears, no one will even talk to each other.
No one took the CSTO seriously; it was not even considered an alliance. They thought it was a meeting place. And now it is a power structure. In the modern world, the opportunity to create such a core of power that can project power outward is very worth it,” said Pavlovsky.
He emphasized that the deployment of peacekeepers was fully consistent with international law, and suggested that Moscow would not deny itself the pleasure of playing on the nerves of the West on the topic of the withdrawal of security forces from Kazakhstan.
“It's intriguing. Well, how can you miss the opportunity to torment everyone with this question? Tokayev said clearly - within two weeks. But it’s not Tokayev that’s important to Putin, it’s the West that’s important to Putin. And he must torment the West. According to the CSTO agreement, he cannot leave troops there simply of his own free will. Then the situation changes, and he comes into conflict with Tokayev.
And Tokayev has clearly gotten the hang of it, he likes being a real president... I think there will be a conclusion, but this situation will drag on until the end. He will try to wait, so that Washington will suffer,” says Pavlovsky.
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