Enlarge image
City hall in Almaty: Russia sends "peacekeepers"
Photo: Orda.kz / imago images / ITAR-TASS
After the unprecedented clashes during protests in Kazakhstan, the situation in the authoritarian-ruled country is extremely tense: shots were fired again on Thursday, reports from the AFP news agency reported. According to official figures, a total of 18 security guards were killed and more than 700 injured. In addition, there are "dozen" deaths among the demonstrators. The West expressed concern, and Russia, along with other states, sent "peacekeepers".
Kazakhstan has been shaken by violent unrest for days. Protests, which were initially directed against rising gas prices, expanded into mass protests critical of the government across the country. The clashes apparently flared up again on Thursday evening; shots could be heard again in Almaty. According to media reports, the security forces cleared a central place in the economic metropolis, which was an important meeting point for demonstrators.
In Almaty on Thursday night, the bloodiest clashes to date between demonstrators and security forces broke out.
On Wednesday, thousands of demonstrators stormed several administrative buildings, including the town hall and the presidential residence.
The Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported on Thursday that security forces had completely cleared all government buildings.
"About ten people were killed on the spot"
More than a thousand people have been injured since the protests began.
Almost 400 injured people are being treated in the hospital in different regions of the country, 62 people are in intensive care, said Deputy Health Minister Aschar Guinijat the TV broadcaster Chabar-24.
According to the police, around 2,000 people were arrested in Almaty alone.
The 58-year-old protester Saule told an AFP reporter that she was stunned by the crackdown on the security forces.
This would have opened fire on the demonstrators.
"About ten people were killed on the spot." Recordings of people screaming in fear as gunshots rang out circulated on online networks.
Russia sends soldiers
At the request of Head of State Kassym-Shomart Tokayev, Kazakhstan's allies, led by Russia, launched a military support mission on Thursday.
The "peacekeeping forces" were sent to Kazakhstan for a limited time "to stabilize and normalize the situation," said a message from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
In addition to Russia and Kazakhstan, four other former Soviet republics are members of the military alliance.
The alliance did not provide any information on the number of soldiers sent.
Western states reacted with concern to the situation in Kazakhstan:
The EU foreign affairs representative Josep Borrell expressed "deep concern" about the unrest.
"The rights and safety of the civilian population must be guaranteed," he demanded.
UN Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet called on all sides to seek a peaceful solution.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also called for a peaceful solution.
France also expressed concern about the escalation of violence.
"We call on all parties - both in Kazakhstan and within the framework of the CSTO - to moderate and enter into a dialogue," declared Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.
The government in London also warned of “further escalation” and called for a “peaceful solution”.
In view of the tense situation, the Foreign Office advised against "non-urgent trips" to Kazakhstan and appealed to people in Almaty to stay at home.
Head of state Tokayev accused "terrorist groups" of being behind the protests.
The groups would be trained "abroad," he said on state television.
The current chairman of the CSTO, Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, said that the unrest in Kazakhstan was triggered by "outside interference."
Tokayev had declared a nationwide state of emergency because of the mass protests.
Throughout Kazakhstan, there are nocturnal curfews, restrictions on freedom of movement and a ban on gatherings.
The president had already dismissed the government on Wednesday.
Larger protests in authoritarian Kazakhstan are rare.
What is happening now is the biggest crisis to date in Tokayev's term in office, who succeeded long-time head of state Nursultan Nazarbayev in 2019.
The now 81-year-old Nazarbayev headed Kazakhstan from 1989 to 2019 and still controls the politics of the Central Asian country as the "leader of the nation".
Attorney General speaks of "acts of terrorism"
In view of the serious riots, the public prosecutor's office in the Central Asian country has now opened criminal proceedings for organizing and participating in mass unrest.
In addition, the state broadcaster Khabar 24 reported on Friday night that pre-trial investigations had been initiated into the "carrying out of acts of terrorism."
If convicted, there is a risk, in the worst case, of life imprisonment and withdrawal of citizenship.
According to state television, a total of six checkpoints have been set up around the capital Nur-Sultan.
Entry and exit are restricted during the curfew from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
The curfew goes hand in hand with the imposed state of emergency.
wal / AFP / dpa / Reuters
