Kazakhstan to host active phase of CSTO military exercise 22 August

The active phase is based on a scenario that envisages a special operation to bring an armed conflict in the CSTO artificial member state Karania which addressed the Organization for military assistance.

The exercise has gathered about 3,000 personnel, about 200 military and special vehicles, some 30 jets and helicopters from the military units of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. They include military elements of the Russian airborne forces, airmobile forces of Kazakhstan, special-operations forces of Belarus, the special branch of the Armed Forces of Kyrgyzstan, and an air-assault brigade from Tajikistan.

The aim of the joint drill which kicked off on 18 August is to improve teamwork of the CSTO collective rapid response forces in the preparation to combat operations and troop command.

The exercise is focused on the CSTO intention to prevent military conflicts both on the external borders of the Organization and inside its member states. The Interaction 2014 is built upon a scenario which assumes an imaginary state Karania making part of the CSTO and an imaginary state Irtyshia that borders on Karania and suffers from a deep domestic policy crisis triggered by a separatist movement on the back of exacerbated interethnic clashes. In line with the CSTO charter, Karania addresses the Organization with a request for military assistance, BelTA reports.

Attending the exercise is CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha, Defense Minister of Kazakhstan Serik Akhmetov, First Deputy Defense Minister Head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Mayor General Oleg Belokonev, First Deputy Defense Minister of Russia Army General Arkady Bakhin.