Kazakh president to hold unscheduled meeting on situation in Russia

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will hold an unscheduled Security Council meeting on June 25. The press service of the head of the republic reports this, according to Kazakhstan's media.

"The head of state will hear the reports of the prime minister and the heads of security agencies on the measures taken to implement his instructions in relation to the situation in Russia," Kazakh media outlets quote Tokayev’s press service as saying on June 24, TASS reports.

The president’s press service said the Council is expected to adopt an operational plan of action to neutralise the possible negative consequences of the situation in the neighbouring friendly state on the security of Kazakh citizens and the country's economy.

On June 24 morning, Russian Wagner mercenaries crossed the border from their field camps in Ukraine and entered the southern city of Rostov-on-Don.

In developments that were breathlessly fast, they reportedly took over the regional military command and seized military facilities in Voronezh, another city further north, towards Moscow.

The fighters started to march toward the capital, prompting the Kremlin to introduce tighter security in many regions, including Moscow, where the mayor of the capital city had told residents to avoid travelling.

There were also warnings that thousands of elite Chechen troops were heading to Moscow to fight off the Wagner soldiers if needed.

In response, President Vladimir Putin pledged to punish those who had "betrayed" Russia.

The agreement to suddenly de-escalate the situation came on Saturday evening, after Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko held talks with Prigozhin, according to Russian TV channel Rossiya 24.

Hours later, a video emerged purportedly showing Wagner troops leaving Rostov, and their leader being driven away to the cheers and handshakes of supporters.