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Soldiers in Almaty: The protests in Kazakhstan were triggered by high gas prices
Photo: MARIYA GORDEYEVA / REUTERS
The situation in Kazakhstan is getting worse.
Violent protests have been going on in the former Soviet republic for days.
Security forces crack down on demonstrators.
Because of the ongoing conflict, the German government is now stopping exports of armaments to Kazakhstan.
According to information from the dpa news agency, the necessary steps have been taken to prevent such goods from being exported to Kazakhstan.
Last year, 25 licenses for the export of armaments to Kazakhstan with a total value of around 2.2 million euros were granted.
That is a comparatively low value - nevertheless, in view of the current situation, an export stop is necessary.
Other countries are also reacting to the situation in Kazakhstan with concern.
The US State Department is now withdrawing consular staff that is not urgently needed.
Employees who are not responsible for emergencies are allowed to leave the country, it said in a statement on Saturday night.
The situation in the Central Asian state had previously escalated when the head of state Kassym-Shomart Tokayev issued the order to shoot demonstrators.
He denied calls to speak to the demonstrators.
In a televised address, he thanked his ally, Russian President Vladimir Putin, for sending troops to support the Kazakh security forces.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned on Friday that it would now be difficult for Kazakhstan to push back Russian influence.
"I think a lesson from recent history is that it is sometimes very difficult to get rid of the Russians once they are in your house," Blinken told reporters.
He urged the foreign troops and the Kazakh authorities to abide by international human rights standards.
"We are watching the situation with great concern and we encourage everyone to find a peaceful solution," he said.
Media reports of explosions in Almaty
The Central Asian country has been rocking unprecedented clashes between demonstrators and security forces for days.
Protests, which were initially directed against rising gas prices, expanded into mass protests critical of the government across the country.
The anger of the demonstrators is also directed against the authoritarian ex-President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who is still considered to be highly influential.
The local situation remains confusing.
State television reported on Saturday night that security forces were continuing to crack down on demonstrators in several cities in the country.
This information could not be independently verified.
Most recently, the operations focused on the metropolis of Almaty, which has been rioting for days.
According to the portal Vlast.kz, there were shootings in at least two places in the economic metropolis.
There were also explosions.
Eyewitnesses reported a burning car.
Security forces patrolled armored vehicles.
Even at night, there was little independent information from there.
The internet was at least temporarily switched off.
Foreigners are currently not allowed into the ex-Soviet republic.
Ex-head of domestic intelligence arrested
The former head of the domestic intelligence service has also been arrested against the background of the protests.
Karim Massimov is suspected of treason, said the National Security Committee (KNB) on Saturday.
Massimov was sacked as head of the KNB this week after demonstrators stormed government buildings in Kazakhstan's largest city, Almaty.
According to its own information, the domestic intelligence service initiated a preliminary investigation into treason.
Massimov and other suspects have been arrested, the message said.
The former KNB boss is considered a close ally of the former President Nazarbayev, who continues to exercise great influence in the country.
This Saturday, it is expected that the authorities will provide further information on the deaths and arrests.
State television reported on Friday that 26 demonstrators had already been killed.
In addition, there have been more than 4,000 arrests across the country.
It was feared that there could now be many more civilian deaths.
According to official information, at least 18 police officers and soldiers have also died so far.
asc / dpa / AFP