US diplomacy chief Antony Blinken on Friday questioned the need to call for the deployment of Russian troops to Kazakhstan in the face of the riots that rocked the country and warned that achieving their return would be “very difficult”.

“One lesson from recent history is that once Russians are in your house, sometimes it’s very difficult to get them out,” the secretary of state warned at a news conference in Washington.

Kazakhstan, Central Asia’s largest country, was shaken by protests erupted in provinces on Sunday after gas prices soared before spreading to major cities, including the economic capital Almaty, where demonstrations have turned into riots against the regime. In which dozens of people were killed.

Russia has sent troops there to support the power.

“It seems to me that the authorities and government of Kazakhstan are certainly in a position to manage these demonstrations properly, maintain order while respecting the rights of the protesters. So I clearly do not understand that they need outside help. Why the need is felt,” said Antony Blinken.

On Thursday, US diplomacy had already warned Russian troops against any human rights violations or any attempt to “take control” of the country’s institutions.