“Not everyone showed loyalty to their duty”: Tokayev criticized the work of some security officials

A number of heads of regional departments of the National Security Committee of Kazakhstan have left their jobs during the recent riots, not fighting the protestors. President of the country Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said this today, speaking in front of the parliament deputies.

“Not everyone has shown faithfulness to their duty. In a number of cities, the heads of departments of the National Security Committee, despite a sufficient military arsenal, without engaging in battle, left the office buildings, leaving weapons and classified information there, “RIA Novosti quotes the head of state.

He proposed a number of measures to reform the power structures of Kazakhstan. In particular, Tokayev called on the command of “combat structures to start immediately practicing skills, equipping with effective means of defense against attack,” and to strengthen “quantitatively and qualitatively, the National Guard,” Interfax notes.

In addition, the president is convinced that it is necessary to increase the number of the special forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Guard, increase the salaries of employees of special forces of all law enforcement agencies and radically increase the combat capability of the army.

Tokayev also called for tougher responsibility for attacking government officials and disobeying legal requirements.

Let us remind you that after the New Year, protests began in Kazakhstan – the protesters demanded a reduction in the price of liquefied gas. Later, the actions of discontent escalated into riots and clashes with law enforcement officers, there are dead and wounded. The protesters demanded, in particular, the holding of new elections, consideration of the issue of lustration of people from the “clan” of ex-President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Against this background, the government of Kazakhstan resigned, First Deputy Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov was appointed acting head of the Cabinet of Ministers, and a state of emergency was declared throughout the country. The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, requested assistance from the CSTO. More than 10 thousand people were detained, according to official data.