BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union on Thursday called on Russia to respect Kazakhstan’s sovereignty and independence after Moscow sent troops to the former Soviet republic, where violent protests left several dead and hundreds injured in recent days.
The European Commission, the Community executive, has also appealed for calm.
“The violence must end. We also call on all parties for restraint and a peaceful resolution of the situation. The EU is of course ready and ready to foster dialogue in the country,” said an EC spokesperson.
Russia sent paratroopers to Kazakhstan as part of a “peacekeeping” force, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (OTSC) announced, a military alliance between several former Soviet republics.
(Report Robin Emmott and John Chalmers; French version Marc Angrand, said by Sophie Louet)