Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the situation in Kazakhstan, as well as the implementation of joint steps within the CSTO on Friday, January 7.

According to a statement from Pashinyan's office, the two also exchanged Christmas greetings and wishes.

Armenia has sent 100 peacekeepers to Kazakhstan as part of a CSTO contingent deployed to the country amid unrest in major cities. Throughout the mission, the Armenian peacekeeping unit will only protect buildings and infrastructures of strategic importance, the Defense Ministry said.

Protesters stormed government buildings in Almaty on January 5 and fought running battles with police and the military, with officials saying 748 security officers were wounded and 18 killed, including two had been decapitated.