164 killed, over 5000 detained during Kazakhstan crisis

Almaty, Jan 10: As the Kazakhstan crisis deepens, Russia has sent its troops to ‘help’ Kazakhstan control the situation. After the Kazakhstan president issued ‘shoot to kill’ orders, the results are as expected. Many people have lost their lives in this massive crackdown. 164 lives have been lost while over 5000 people have been detained.

 

 

 

The office of Kazakhstan’s president said Sunday that about 5,800 people were detained by police during protests that developed into violence last week and prompted a Russia-led military alliance to send troops to the country. The health ministry said 164 people, including three children, were killed.

 

 

 

Most of the deaths — 103 — were in Almaty, the country's largest city, where demonstrators seized government buildings and set some afire, according to the ministry. The country's ombudswoman for children's rights said that three of those killed were minors, including a 4-year-old girl.

 

The ministry had earlier reported more than 2,200 people sought treatment for injuries from the protests, and the Interior Ministry said about 1,300 security officers were injured.

 

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s office said Sunday that order has stabilized in the country and that authorities have regained control of administrative buildings that were occupied by protesters, some of which were set on fire.

 

The Russian TV station Mir-24 said sporadic gunfire was heard in Almaty, the country’s largest city, on Sunday but it was unclear whether they were warning shots by law enforcement. President Tokayev on Friday said he had authorized police and the military to shoot to kill to restore order.

 

Almaty’s airport, which had been taken by protesters last week, remained closed but was expected to resume operating on Monday.

Protests over a sharp rise in prices of LPG fuel began in the country’s west on January 2 and spread throughout the country, apparently reflecting discontent extending beyond the fuel prices.

 

Tokayev contends the demonstrations were ignited by “terrorists” with foreign backing, although the protests have shown no obvious leaders or organization. The statement from his office on Sunday said the detentions included “a sizable number of foreign nationals,” but gave no details.

 

It was unclear how many of those detained remained in custody on Sunday.

 

The former head of Kazakhstan’s counterintelligence and anti-terror agency has been arrested on charges of attempted government overthrow. The arrest of Karim Masimov, which was announced Saturday, came just days after he was removed as head of the National Security Committee by Tokayev.