Kazakhstan’s president orders security forces to “shoot to kill” protesters without warning | world News

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Kazakhstan’s president has ordered security forces to “shoot to kill without warning” as the crackdown on protesters escalates dramatically.

As many as 20,000 “thieves” attacked the financial capital Almaty and destroyed state property, said Kasim-Jomart Tokayev, adding that he allowed the use of lethal force against them.

In a televised address to the nation, he said: “He who does not surrender will be eliminated.”

The president called on a Russian-led military coalition to help.

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2:04 Russian peacekeepers are sent to Kazakhstan

He said that the peacekeepers have arrived in Kazakhstan from Russia and neighboring countries upon request and will remain temporarily in the country to ensure security.

Kazakhstan: Dozens of protesters were killed and security forces beheaded while Russian-led forces were engaged in a ‘peacekeeping’ mission

Troops were deployed from the Collective Security Treaty Organization – an alliance of Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

The coalition’s secretary general told Russia’s RIA news agency that about 2,500 peacekeepers were being sent – but this could increase.

In his speech, Mr. Tokayev also thanked President Vladimir Putin as well as the leaders of China, Uzbekistan and Turkey for their assistance in suppressing the uprising.

He criticized calls by some countries for talks with protesters as “nonsense”, adding: “What negotiations can be conducted with criminals and murderers?”

Photo: Russian “peacekeepers” move to Kazakhstan

Security forces beheaded

As of Friday, 26 protesters were killed during the unrest, while 18 were injured and more than 3,000 people arrested, the country’s interior ministry said.

Authorities said two members of the security forces were beheaded and were among at least 18 who died, while more than 700 were injured.

PHOTO: Demonstrators clash with law enforcement officers during a protest sparked by a fuel price increase in Aktobe, Kazakhstan January 5, 2022, in this still image from a video. The video was taken on January 5, 2022. Kazakh Ministry of the Interior / 6th publication

Kazakhstan is witnessing its fiercest street protests since gaining independence three decades ago.

The unrest turned after the removal of the gas price ceiling

Unrest erupted in the western oil-producing province of Mangistau on Sunday after the removal of a cap on liquefied petroleum gas – which many people use to power their cars – causing prices to double.

The president reversed the increase, but the days of unrest turned into a broader set of grievances.

The mayor’s office and the presidential palace in Almaty were set on fire on Wednesday, and the airport was temporarily requisitioned, as battles continued between crowds of protesters and police.

State of emergency for two weeks

A two-week state of emergency was declared across the country, a curfew was imposed, and the entire government resigned in the most dramatic unrest in Kazakhstan since the fall of the Soviet Union.

New battles broke out on Thursday evening in the main Almaty Square, which was occupied during the day by hundreds of troops and demonstrators.

Kazakh officials insisted that the troops would not fight the protesters – instead focusing on guarding government institutions.

On Friday, Mr. Tokayev declared that constitutional order had been “fundamentally restored in all regions of the country” and that “local authorities are in control of the situation”.

But he added that “terrorists are still using weapons and damaging people’s property” and that “anti-terrorist work” should continue.

Image: A detailed satellite map showing the most important protest areas

Normal life resumes in some parts

Clashes were still reported in Almaty on Friday morning.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major-General Igor Konashenkov said that Almaty airport, which was closed after being stormed and taken over by protesters earlier, was back under the control of Kazakh law enforcement and CSTO peacekeepers.

Local TV station Khabar 24 reported that the airport will remain closed until Friday evening.

Normal life has resumed in other parts of the country, with internet access partially restored in the capital, Nur-Sultan.

Protesters are angry with the former leader

Much of the protester’s anger is directed at former leader Nursultan Nazarbayev, who resigned in 2019 but remains powerful and believes his family controls much of the economy.

Hymn “Old man, go away!” He was heard in videos, such as one from the western town of Aktobe, where police fired water cannons and sound bombs.

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