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Unprecedented unrest in Kazakhstan: Dead civilians and soldiers - USA assures "full support"

2022-01-07T04:44:52.236Z


Unprecedented unrest in Kazakhstan: Dead civilians and soldiers - USA assures "full support" Created: 01/07/2022, 05:30 AM By: Patrick Mayer, Bedrettin Bölükbasi Police officers and soldiers are killed in protests against high gas prices in Kazakhstan. The military intervenes, President Tokayev asks Russia for help. The news ticker. Kazakhstan crisis: Due to the sharp rise in liquefied gas pri


Unprecedented unrest in Kazakhstan: Dead civilians and soldiers - USA assures "full support"

Created: 01/07/2022, 05:30 AM

By: Patrick Mayer, Bedrettin Bölükbasi

Police officers and soldiers are killed in protests against high gas prices in Kazakhstan.

The military intervenes, President Tokayev asks Russia for help.

The news ticker.

  • Kazakhstan crisis:

    Due to the sharp rise in liquefied gas prices, demonstrations broke out in many cities

    (see initial report)

    .

  • After violent riots, head of state Kassym-Shomart Tokayev asked a Russian-led military alliance for help

    (see update from January 5, 10:24 p.m.)

    .

  • According to the Kazakh authorities, "dozens of attackers have been eliminated" (

    see update from January 6, 8:50 am)

    .

  • This

    news ticker on the situation in Kazakhstan

    is constantly updated.

Update from January 6th, 10.30 p.m.:

In view of the serious riots in Kazakhstan, the General Prosecutor's Office of the Central Asian country has 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 acts of terrorism" .

If convicted, there is a risk, in the worst case, of life imprisonment and withdrawal of citizenship.

The unrest in the ex-Soviet republic, which is rich in oil and gas, was triggered by displeasure at the rise in fuel prices at petrol stations.

But they quickly turned into sometimes violent protests against the authoritarian government, which people accuse, among other things, of abuse of power and corruption.

There were violent riots in the megacity of Almaty in particular.

Riots in Kazakhstan: 3,000 Russian paratroopers intervene because of the riots

Update from January 6, 9:55 p.m.:

What and who are responsible for the uninhibited violence in Kazakhstan? In a report by “heute journal”, a German journalist who has been reporting from Almaty for a long time explains that many Kazakhs had only waited a moment to oppose the authoritarian regime. According to this, a large part of the approximately 18 million inhabitants would not benefit from the great wealth of natural resources such as oil and gas. Often there is no economic perspective for people.

Meanwhile, the riots and riots continue.

Last night another attempt was made to storm the government building, according to the ZDF report.

In the meantime, 3,000 Russian paratroopers have already arrived in Kazakhstan to support the government troops there in the fight against the insurgents.

More soldiers from a defense alliance with Russia are to follow.

Update from January 6th, 7:10 pm:

The situation in Kazakhstan remains tense.

As ZDF's “heute journal” reports, fighting between insurgents and government troops is said to be raging in parts of the capital, Almaty.

The report said there were dozens of dead and up to 1,000 injured.

Gas price crisis in Kazakhstan: USA contact - Russia sends soldiers

Update from January 6th, 6 p.m.:

Against the background of serious unrest in the Central Asian Republic of Kazakhstan, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken telephoned his Kazakh colleague Muchtar Tleuberdi. The subject of the conversation on Thursday was the ongoing state of emergency, said the US State Department. Blinken had reaffirmed "the full support of the United States for the constitutional institutions of Kazakhstan and the freedom of the media". He spoke out in favor of a peaceful solution to the crisis in Kazakhstan. A Russian-led military alliance has meanwhile sent its first soldiers to the ex-Soviet republic

Meanwhile, EU Foreign Affairs Representative Josep Borrell has expressed "deep concern" about the unrest in Kazakhstan.

"The rights and safety of the civilian population must be ensured," wrote Borrell on Thursday in the online service Twitter.

The European Union is ready to help deal with this crisis.

The UN Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet called on all sides in Kazakhstan to seek a peaceful solution.

Bachelet said that people have the right to peaceful protest and freedom of expression.

"At the same time, demonstrators, no matter how angry or offended they may be, shouldn't use violence against others."

Bachelet also called for the release of arrested peaceful demonstrators.

Gas price crisis in Kazakhstan: German economy points to the role of the country

Update from January 6th, 4:20 p.m.:

In view of the worsening situation in Kazakhstan, the German economy has called for no violence and a peaceful settlement of the conflict. "A quick calming down of the situation is essential in order to avert further bloodshed, a destabilization of the country and thus damage to Kazakhstan as a business and investment location," said the chairman of the Eastern Committee of German Business, Oliver Hermes.

Kazakhstan was "by far the most important German trading partner in Central Asia," said the Eastern Committee. The country is one of the most important crude oil suppliers in Germany and the EU. In addition, it has rare earths and other indispensable metals for high technologies. According to the information, around 480 German companies are currently working in Kazakhstan and have invested around 1.3 billion euros there. According to this, German companies primarily supply machines and systems to Kazakhstan; conversely, raw materials dominate imports.

According to the information, Kazakhstan is also increasingly relying on the development of green technologies, renewable energies and hydrogen. "The country can thus play an important role in the German energy transition," explained Hermes. Last but not least, as a logistical hub between the EU, the EU's eastern neighbors and Asia, the Central Asian country is of immense importance. The Eastern Committee called for the constitutional institutions and human rights in Kazakhstan to be respected, for them to be protected and for the recent conflict to be resolved quickly in a peaceful political dialogue. This includes the right to peaceful rallies and freedom of expression.

Update from January 6, 3:45 p.m.:

According to official information from the authorities, around 2,000 people were arrested during the protests in Kazakhstan in the megacity of Almaty alone. The arrests continued, the Central Asian country's police said, according to the

Tengrinews

news agency . It was initially unclear how many people were taken into custody across the country.

In the past few days there have been particularly violent riots in the economic metropolis of Almaty in the southeast of the ex-Soviet republic.

The Interior Ministry said at least 13 police officers and soldiers were killed.

How many civilians died was unclear.

The authoritarian-led Kazakhstan has been experiencing unprecedented protests for days.

The trigger for the unrest that broke out over the weekend was displeasure at the significant rise in fuel prices at petrol stations in the ex-Soviet republic, which is rich in oil and gas.

In response, the government was also fired.

A spokeswoman for EU foreign affairs representative Josep Borrell said in Brussels that violence, vandalism and looting are condemned.

At the same time, they regret the loss of human life.

The violence must come to an end.

All those involved are called upon to show restraint and find a peaceful solution.

Gas price crisis in Kazakhstan: German government advises against traveling to the country

Update from January 6, 3:35 p.m.:

The federal government advises against traveling to the Republic of Kazakhstan, which has been shaken by serious unrest.

The Foreign Office also announced on Thursday that the German Consulate General in the economic metropolis of Almaty in the south-east of the country would remain closed until further notice.

Consular support is only possible via the embassy in the capital Nur-Sultan (formerly: Astana).

The authoritarian-led country in Central Asia has been experiencing unprecedented protests for days.

The trigger was resentment at the significantly increased fuel prices at the petrol stations in the oil and gas-rich ex-Soviet republic with more than 18 million inhabitants.

In response to the protests, some of which were violent, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev dismissed the government.

A Russian-led military alliance has meanwhile sent its first soldiers.

Security forces in the Kazakh city of Almaty shot at demonstrators in the central square.

© Valery Sharifulin / TASS / dpa

Gas price crisis in Kazakhstan: Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan send soldiers

Update from January 6th, 11:30 am:

China sees the unrest in its neighboring country Kazakhstan as an "internal matter".

"We are confident that the authorities can adequately deal with the situation," said Foreign Office spokesman Wang Wenbin to the press in Beijing.

"We hope that the situation will stabilize and normal social order will be restored."

Kazakhstan and China cultivated a comprehensive strategic partnership, the spokesman emphasized.

In his brief statement, Wang Wenbin did not address the dispatch of soldiers from Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the Central Asian country.

In the meantime, the Kazakh media reported on state television that there were further deaths among security forces in the country. Accordingly, 13 security forces were killed in the city of Almaty. Two bodies were found beheaded, the reports said. There was still no clear official information on possible civilian deaths.

Update from January 6th, 9:40 a.m.:

More than 1000 people were injured in the serious riots in Kazakhstan, the country's Ministry of Health said, according to the Kazakh media.

400 people were taken to hospitals.

Of these, 62 would have to be treated in intensive care units.

No information was given on the fatalities.

It is feared that the riots that have been going on since Tuesday

(January 4th)

have killed many people.

Escalation in Kazakhstan: Police kill dozen of demonstrators - Putin intervenes

Update from January 6, 8:50 a.m.: Rioting

in Kazakhstan's economic metropolis Almaty has reportedly resulted in dozens of deaths.

The Kazakh television broadcaster Khabar 24 quoted a spokesman for the interior ministry as saying that the Russian state agency Tass reported that people tried to storm various police buildings on

Thursday night

(January 6)

. "Dozens of attackers were eliminated". Their identities would now be determined.

So far, the authorities have officially confirmed only eight killed police officers and soldiers. The authorities have not yet provided any information on the deaths of civilians. However, Almaty hospitals reported 53 civilians injured, while opposition sources reported four protesters dead. Recordings by the Russian state agency Tass previously showed a group of security forces in Almaty firing shots in the direction of the demonstrators. Around 300 soldiers with armored vehicles were therefore relocated to the central square.

In view of the unrest, Russia has now relocated soldiers to the Central Asian country.

Paratroopers were dispatched as part of a peacekeeping force, reported several Russian state agencies unanimously, citing the Organization of the Collective Security Treaty (CSTO).

The soldiers were sent for a “limited time” “to stabilize and normalize the situation,” Tass quoted the CSTO as saying.

Gas price crisis in Kazakhstan: unprecedented unrest - fight near Almaty

Update from January 5, 10:24 p.m.:

In view of unprecedented unrest in his country, Kazakhstan's head of state Kassym-Shomart Tokayev asked a Russian-led military alliance for help, reports the AFP. He had asked the heads of state of the states allied in the Organization of the Collective Security Treaty (CSTO) to support Kazakhstan "in overcoming this terrorist threat," said Tokayev in a televised address on Thursday night. In addition to Russia, five other ex-Soviet republics belong to the CSTO. The current situation is "no longer just a threat," said Tokayev on state television. Rather, the situation undermines “the integrity of the state”. 

Tokayev accused "terrorist groups" of being behind the protests and of "rioting", looting shops and "attacking women" across the country. The groups were "trained" abroad. "They are seizing buildings and public infrastructure, and most importantly, they are seizing places with small arms," ​​Tokayev continued. In the meantime, people have managed to gain control of five aircraft at Almaty Airport. "There is currently a battle going on near Almaty with the participation of the armed forces of the Ministry of Defense," Tojakev said. The country's most violent riots took place in Almaty (see first report.)

First report from January 5th:

Almaty - After violent riots in Kazakhstan in Central Asia, the military intervened.

"Terrorist gangs" had fought a fight with paratroopers in the city of Almaty, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in a televised address on Thursday night.

The city's airport in the southeast of the authoritarian republic has been "liberated", reported the Kazakh media, citing the deputy mayor of Almaty, Edzhan Babakumarov.

A "special operation" has started.

Riots in Kazakhstan over the rise in gas prices: protesters occupy the airport

According to the media, a crowd occupied the airport on Wednesday afternoon.

Several airlines then canceled flights to Almaty.

Tokayev also said in his address that he had asked the Russian-led military alliance Organization of the Collective Security Treaty for help.

The riots that broke out over the weekend are “not a threat, but an undermining of the integrity of the state”.

Riot police block protesters in downtown Almaty.

© Vladimir Tretyakov / dpa

The unprecedented protests in Kazakhstan, in which, according to the authorities, at least eight police officers and soldiers had so far been killed, broke out out of displeasure at the significantly higher prices for liquefied gas at filling stations.

Many Kazakhs use liquefied petroleum gas because it is cheaper than gasoline.

Violent riots across the country - Almaty city administration stormed

The ex-Soviet republic was plunged into a serious political crisis.

The government resigned on Wednesday.

A state of emergency has been declared across the country.

There were particularly violent riots in Almaty.

In the economic metropolis, demonstrators stormed the city administration and Tokayev's residence.

In Kazakhstan, which was ruled by the ruler Nursultan Nazarbayev for decades, it is the largest wave of protests in years.

The country with more than 18 million inhabitants borders among others on Russia and China *.

It is rich in oil and gas reserves.

The republic is also one of the largest uranium producers in the world.

Nevertheless, Kazakhstan is struggling with mismanagement and poverty.

How many thousands of people took part in the protests was unclear.

In the meantime, the Internet has been switched off - presumably to make new meetings more difficult.

Several television stations stopped operating.

(dpa) * Merkur.de / bayern is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2022-01-07

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