Kazakhstan, after dozens of deaths, seeks to stop riots with help from Russia

Kazakhstan, with the support of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a military alliance that brings together six former Soviet republics, including Russia, seeks to put an end to the serious unrest that shook the Central Asian nation in the last two days.

The demonstrations began on January 2, initially peaceful and in protest at the considerable rise in the prices of liquefied gas, the main automotive fuel used in the country.

However, two days later they led to an escalation of violence that called into question the ability of the police and the Army to control the situation.

Given this, the Kazakh President, Kasim-Yomart Tokáyev, took the reins of the Security Council and requested help from the CSTO, a request that received an affirmative response from the organization.

Largest protests since independence

And it is that it is the largest protests that have shaken the Central Asian nation since its independence: only on Wednesday did the protesters seize and destroy administrative headquarters, television channels, businesses and public services, shops.

The authorities acknowledged the death of at least 18 law enforcement officers, two of whom were found beheaded, an indication that has led several political scientists to assume the involvement of radical Islamists in these riots.

Tokáyev already threatened the day before, after assuming the position of president of the country’s Security Council, a lifetime post held by his predecessor, Nursultán Nazarbayev, that he would take drastic measures against those he described as “terrorists.”

Day of violence

During the day on Thursday the situation in Almaty did not change for the better, the city became a battlefield between the protesters and the police, who arrested 2,998 participants in the protests today.

Unlike the day before, when the police withdrew from key government headquarters such as the mayor’s office or the president’s residence, law enforcement officers did use weapons and have reported “dozens of terrorists killed,” without giving exact figures.

In particular, serious clashes were observed in the central Plaza de la República, where the uniformed officers opened fire on the protesters “who were armed,” as witnesses informed the Russian agency TASS, who claimed to have seen injuries and deaths, although they did not know how to assess the number of casualties.

The Almaty administration reported that “a group of terrorists was killed next to the headquarters of the Almaly District Police Directorate of Almaty” as part of the police actions to regain control of the city.

All this between internet and mobile phone cuts that hampered the news coverage of the events and generated uncertainty among the population.

A bad image

The lack of willingness to dialogue, the damage caused to both government headquarters and private businesses, the use of weapons instead of following the pattern of peaceful protests, and the lack of a defined political identity, have served as arguments to those who undermine the legitimacy of protests and accuse the protesters of terrorists.

The Kazakh authorities reported that “gangs of marauders that destroy banks, cafes, restaurants, shops and large shopping centers” continue to operate in this city and other regions of Kazakhstan.

A situation that has already caused damages valued at 92 million dollars, according to the Kazakh business community, and could affect the prices of crude oil, uranium and cryptocurrencies, since this crisis affects mining in Kazakhstan, the second largest producer in the world. of these currencies.

An accolade from the CSTO

In this context, the rapid response of the CSTO member countries, which sent a contingent of 3,800 military personnel, has been a boost from the alliance to Nur-Sultan, even though they have not yet taken action.

With regard to the European Union (EU), Brussels is “cautiously” monitoring the arrival of foreign troops to Kazakhstan, ”said the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, expressing his hope that“ the presence of foreign forces do not undermine the independence ”of this country.

The United States asked Nur-Sultan for “calm” and “containment”, and denied its involvement in the protests.