Use of Lethal Force Against Kazakh Protestors 'Without Warning' Authorized By President
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Kazakh law enforcers eliminated 26 participants of the recent mass protests and detained over 3,000 more, as the country’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced on Friday that he has given permission for use lethal force to quell the unrest that engulfed the country.
“I have given an order to the law enforcement and military to shoot to kill without warning,” Tokayev announced on Friday.
The president has rejected the idea of resolving the ongoing crisis through negotiations. “It’s nonsense. What kind of talks can one have with criminals and murderers?” he asked.
Meanwhile, the Kazakh Khabar-24 TV channel reported on Friday citing the country’s Interior Ministry that 26 participants of the recent mass protests were killed and over 3,000 more were detained, Tass reported.
"In all, over 3,000 criminals were detained, 26 more killed and 18 armed terrorists were wounded," the television channel reported adding that 18 law enforcers were killed and up to 750 policemen were wounded during mass disorders.
A state of emergency has been declared all across Kazakhstan over mass protests that erupted in the cities of Zhanaozen and Aktau in the Mangistau region in the country’s southwest on January 2 where residents protested against fuel price hikes.
Two days later, riots erupted in Almaty (in the country’s southeast) where police used stun grenades to disperse crowds and also in other cities, in particular, in Atyrau and Aktobe (in the west), Uralsk (in the northwest), Taraz, Shymkent and Kyzylorda (in the south), Karaganda (in the northeast) and even in the capital of Nur-Sultan.
On January 5, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev dismissed the government. Its members continue discharging their duties until a new Cabinet is approved.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated on Thursday that peacekeeping forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) were sent to Kazakhstan at the request of the republic's authorities, and this decision was made collectively.
