On January 5, 2022, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Tokayev signed a presidential decree appointing Erlan Kalin as the State Secretary of the Republic of Kazakhstan, previously serving as an assistant to the President.

On January 12, 2022, the State Secretary of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Erlan Kalin, said that Kazakhstan was attacked by international terrorism, and the current situation has stabilized.

Kalin pointed out that Kazakhstan suffered from the aggression of international terrorism. The series of events that have taken place is absolutely an act of international terrorism. This is a well-equipped, highly coordinated and targeted attack on police stations and secret services by armed elements with the purpose of seizing weapons and equipment. They attacked communication buildings, infrastructure, airports, roads, telecommunications facilities. These plans and attempts were ultimately bankrupt under the decisive and forceful actions of the President of Kazakhstan. "What is being played out in Kazakhstan is a new, different, shameless 'playbook' that aims to seize power by organizing terrorist attacks that will destabilize the country."

Kalin said that the participation of the peacekeeping force enables Kazakhstan to concentrate its efforts and quickly control the situation. He also pointed out that the CSTO peacekeeping force is not directly involved in the fight against terrorists, but protects strategic facilities in Kazakhstan. Direct counter-terrorism operations are carried out by several special police forces in Kazakhstan. President Tokayev said a few days ago that the main phase of the anti-terrorist operation has ended, and the CSTO peacekeeping force will be withdrawn in phases starting from January 13, 2022.

Kalin said that President Tokayev will present a package of political reforms in his regular State of the Union address in September 2022. The reform plan will be submitted after a full and constructive dialogue with the public and experts.Editor/Ma Xue