News Analysis China’s largest media, the state-operated Reference News, has repeated allegation made in the Russian media on Jan. 6, that the United States was the force behind the unrest in Kazakhstan, which has killed dozens of protesters and at least 18 law enforcement officials. Reference News did not provide any evidence to support the claims by Russian media. Washington has also denied the allegations. “We’re monitoring reports of protests in Kazakhstan. We support calls for calm, for protesters to express themselves peacefully, and for authorities to exercise restraint,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters at a Jan. 5 briefing. “There are some crazy Russian claims about the U.S. being behind this. Let me just use this opportunity to convey that as absolutely false and clearly a part of the standard Russian disinformation playbook.” The Kazakh protests were triggered after sudden and steep hikes in gas prices in …