Chinese umbrella over Kazakhstan, Russia loses influence [COMMENT]

**Kazakhstan is increasingly loosening its ties with Russia, with support from Beijing. Xi Jinping's visit to Nur-Sultan is simply a clear signal from Beijing that it will not let any moves by Moscow against Kazakh leader Kassimi-Zomart Tokayev. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan's attack on Armenia showed that the Organisation of the Collective safety Treaty (ODKB) had become a sham. These events preceded the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. **