Bishkek has announced that it is canceling military exercises for the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) which were to be held in Kyrgyzstan this week.
The Indestructible Brotherhood-2022 exercises were scheduled for October 10 to October 14, and were to include military personnel from all six CSTO members -- Belarus, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Armenia -- as well as from five other states, including Serbia, Syria, and Uzbekistan.
No reason was given for the cancelation announced on October 9.
Kyrgyzstan was involved in deadly clashes with fellow CSTO member Tajikistan along the two countries' border in September, after which it called on the CSTO to take an active role in resolving the dispute. Kyrgyz lawmakers had reportedly objected to Tajikistan being allowed to participate in the exercises.
The CSTO alliance is loosely similar to NATO with its principle that an attack on one is an attack on all.
CSTO exercises in Kazakhstan ended on October 8, after which participants were to head to Kyrgyzstan. They will now return to their home countries.