At least 26 protesters and 18 policemen have died in Kazakhstan after the country’s president urge soldiers and policemen to “shoot to kill” to suppress protests against the regime. In all, at least 40 people have died and more than 4,400 have been arrested since the protests began.
The President of Kazakhstan, Kasim-Yomart Tokáyev, has informed Vladimir Putin by telephone that the situation is stabilizing in the Central Asian Republic, scene of violent riots in recent days.
“The President of Kazakhstan reported in detail on the situation created in the country and stressed that it is evolving towards stabilization, “the Kremlin said in a statement.
What is happening in Kazakhstan?
Nursultan Nazarvayev, father of the Kazakh homeland, He no longer receives tributes, but insults. The Kazakh people revolt against the one who ruled for 30 years, the last in the shadows. In 2019 he made a change of government towards Kasim-Yomart Tokáyev, and it is this pupil who has removed him from his position of power.
Tokáyev has gone a step further with the arrest of the former head of the country’s Security Committee. The goal, expert Erika Fatland has explained, is “consolidate his faithful around him and eliminate what may be left of the regime de Nazarbayev “.
Today, the streets are a burning battlefield. The unrest in Kazakhstan emerged from a protest over the prices of liquefied gas, essential for car travel around the country. The demonstrations began in the cities of Zhanaozen and Aktau.
Internet outages have not stopped the spread of protests throughout the country, which until now has been one of the most stable and wealthy in the region. In addition, it is in a geostrategic position and its size is five times that of Spain.
For the government, the protesters are terrorists and that is why the president refuses to speak to them. It has only done so with Putin who, through the Organization of the collective security treaty, has sent aid. According to the Russian president, they are “Peace Corps”.
For its part, China, the country’s leading trading partner, has already shown support for the regime, while the United States warns of its concern and withdraws its staff at the embassy.
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
