The CSTO forces will stay in Kazakhstan for as long as necessary, after completing their functions, the troops will be withdrawn from the country. Russian President Vladimir Putin made the statement at a special session of the CSTO Collective Security Council, RIA Novosti reported.
Putin also noted that the CSTO units are located in Kazakhstan at the official request of the leadership of the republic, which fully complies with Article 4 of the 1992 Basic Collective Security Treaty.
