Russia has been pulled into a conflict in neighboring Kazakhstan

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Russia has been pulled into a conflict in neighboring Kazakhstan

Transcript¹

A Russian-led force of some 2,500 troops arrived there last week, at the invitation of the president amid a wave of popular unrest.

A MARTINEZ, HOST:

All right, even as Vladimir Putin is negotiating with the West over the future of Ukraine, he's been pulled into a conflict in another neighboring country, Kazakhstan. A Russian-led force of some-2,500 troops arrived there last week at the invitation of the president amid a wave of popular unrest that turned violent. For the latest, we have NPR's Moscow correspondent Charles Maynes on the line with us now. Charles, last week we saw video of protesters setting fire to buildings and also involved in deadly clashes with security forces. What's the latest now?

CHARLES MAYNES, BYLINE²: Well, yeah. So this morning, we heard from Kazakhstan's president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who addressed leaders of countries involved in this Russian-led regional security force. And let's listen in for just a bit.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

PRESIDENT KASSYM-JOMART TOKAYEV: (Non-English language spoken).

MAYNES: So Tokayev here is saying that constitutional order in Kazakhstan has now been restored and anti-terrorist operation by state forces was nearing its completion. He says that nearly 8,000 people have been detained, more than a thousand people injured, and that authorities are still trying to determine the number of dead. It's thought to be in the dozens, if not more.

Now, Tokayev also laid out his version of what had happened over these past few days. He said that what began as a peaceful protest over a hike in fuel prices was exploited by well-organized groups trying to overthrow³ the government. He noted⁴ that even after he'd addressed protesters' demands, government buildings and communications hubs were attacked across the country simultaneously⁵ by what he called terrorists. And Tokayev pushed back against Western concerns that shoot-to-kill orders he subsequently gave meant security forces were firing on innocent protesters, saying these were pitched battles, in fact, with arms and surgeons. And he thanked his Russian-led force of peacekeepers for coming to Kazakhstan's aid as it was attacked, noting they had secured government sites that freed up Kazakh troops to take on the terrorists and win.

MARTINEZ: Speaking of Russians, I assume Vladimir Putin took part in today's discussions. What did he have to say?

MAYNES: Yeah, he did. So Putin said last week's attacks on the - were an attack on the Kazakh state, he said, using what he called Maidan technologies. Now, that's a reference to the popular street revolution in Ukraine in 2014 that overthrew⁶ a Moscow-backed government.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN: (Non-English language spoken).

MAYNES: And Putin here says this was not the first or the last attempt by outside forces to interfere⁷ in the post-Soviet space. Putin argued that by acting⁸ together, Russia and its allies had shown they won't allow these foreign-backed street revolutions to succeed. And so it seems Putin and others, like Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, who's also on the call, are arguing Kazakhstan is now a precedent⁹, a case study for these peacekeepers to be deployed¹⁰ whenever there is popular discontent because in their view, there's always a hidden foreign hand stoking it.

MARTINEZ: I remember how Secretary of State Blinken expressed concern the other day that Russians, once in Kazakhstan, will not leave.

MAYNES: Right, and infuriating Russia in the process. You know, I should note that Putin today said Russian troops would be leaving, although he allowed they could stay there as long as the Kazakh government wanted. And of course, this is a contingent¹¹ of less than 2,500 troops serving in a country the size of Western Europe. So, you know, the idea that they could have a significant military impact is absurd. But by inviting¹² the Russian forces in, Tokayev, this Kazakh leader, seems to be signaling domestically he has mass - Moscow's backing.

After all, you know, one of the other things we've seen this past week is Tokayev sidelining his predecessor¹³, Nursultan Nazarbayev, who ruled Kazakhstan for its entire post-Soviet history and had been seen as the most influential¹⁴ figure here, even after he handed the presidency¹⁵ to Tokayev in 2019. So Tokayev was considered a caretaker president under Nazarbayev and - until this week. How exactly beholden he'll now be to Vladimir Putin, well, that remains¹⁶ to be seen.

MARTINEZ: That's NPR Moscow correspondent Charles Maynes. Charles, thanks.

MAYNES: Thank you.

(SOUNDBITE OF MAMMAL HANDS' "KANDAIKI")

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

3 overthrow   

v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆

参考例句：

• After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后，这个国家处于混乱中。
• The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 simultaneously   

adv.同时发生地，同时进行地

参考例句：

• The radar beam can track a number of targets almost simultaneously.雷达波几乎可以同时追着多个目标。
• The Windows allow a computer user to execute multiple programs simultaneously.Windows允许计算机用户同时运行多个程序。

6 overthrew   

overthrow的过去式

参考例句：

• The people finally rose up and overthrew the reactionary regime. 人们终于起来把反动的政权推翻了。
• They overthrew their King. 他们推翻了国王。

7 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

8 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

9 precedent   

n.先例，前例；惯例；adj.在前的，在先的

参考例句：

• Is there a precedent for what you want me to do?你要我做的事有前例可援吗？
• This is a wonderful achievement without precedent in Chinese history.这是中国历史上亘古未有的奇绩。

10 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

11 contingent   

adj.视条件而定的；n.一组，代表团，分遣队

参考例句：

• The contingent marched in the direction of the Western Hills.队伍朝西山的方向前进。
• Whether or not we arrive on time is contingent on the weather.我们是否按时到达要视天气情况而定。

12 inviting   

adj.诱人的，引人注目的

参考例句：

• An inviting smell of coffee wafted into the room.一股诱人的咖啡香味飘进了房间。
• The kitchen smelled warm and inviting and blessedly familiar.这间厨房的味道温暖诱人，使人感到亲切温馨。

13 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

14 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

15 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

16 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。