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Kazakhstan's President Tokayev
Photo: Kazakh presidential website / imago images / Xinhua
The announcement by the Kazakh President Kassym-Schomart Tokayev that he would let fatal shots be fired at protesters caused outrage in Germany and Europe. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) called for an end to the violence. "Of course, this also applies to the fact that there should be no violence against citizens," said the SPD politician. Federal Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP) wrote on Twitter: "Anyone who allows demonstrators to be shot without warning in order to kill has left the circle of civilized states."
Kazakhstan's head of state Kassym-Shomart Tokayev had previously given the security forces permission to shoot demonstrators in a televised address. "I gave orders to fire fatal shots without warning," Tokayev said. "We are dealing with bandits and terrorists who have been trained," he said. "That's why they have to be eliminated, and that will happen soon." He described the initiation of talks with the demonstrators as "nonsense". Tokayev: "What kind of negotiations can there be with criminals and murderers?"
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron also called for an end to the violence.
"I am following the situation in Kazakhstan with great concern," said von der Leyen at a joint press conference in Paris on Friday.
"I call for an end to violence and restraint," she added.
The rights and safety of the residents should be protected.
"The European Union is ready to help wherever it can," said von der Leyen.
Macron also urged "de-escalation".
Support from Putin and Xi
Tokayev received backing for his actions from China's head of state and party leader Xi Jinping.
In a written message on Friday, Xi praised Tokayev's "highly responsible" action by taking "decisive and effective measures" and quickly calming the situation.
China is turning against all forces that undermine Kazakhstan's stability, endanger the security of the country and sabotage the peaceful life of the Kazakh people, wrote Xi Jinping, according to the official Xinhua news agency. China also rejects any attempt by foreign forces to provoke unrest and instigate "color revolutions" in Kazakhstan.
According to the Interfax agency, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said on Friday that Russia's head of state Vladimir Putin had spoken to Tokayev several times on the phone.
There were also talks with the heads of state and government of a Russian-dominated military alliance of several ex-Soviet republics.
The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) had moved to Kazakhstan at the request of Tokayev's military.
The alliance spoke of a total of around 2,500 foreign soldiers who were supposed to support the Kazakh security forces.
Lukashenko speaks with Tokayev's predecessor in office
According to the Belarusian state media, ruler Alexander Lukashenko also phoned Tokayev's predecessor Nursultan Nazarbayev on Friday.
It was the first mention of Nazarbayev's official contact since the riots began.
Nazarbayev resigned as president in 2019, but was still considered influential.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev sacked Nazarbayev on Wednesday as head of the Kazakh Security Council under the influence of the protests.
The news agency Belta announced that Lukashenko and Nazarbayev had "discussed the situation in Kazakhstan in detail," but did not provide any further information.
Nazarbayev's whereabouts are unclear.
There are rumors that he has already left the country.
sol / dpa / AFP / Reuters
