Friday, January 07, 2022
Brutal regime
Bushman condemns shooting orders in Kazakhstan
“Destroy”, “Annihilate”, “Eliminate”: The choice of words of Kazakhstan’s ruler Tokayev reveals that he wants to continue to crack down on the demonstrators in his country. The federal government reacts with concern. Justice Minister Buschmann finds clear words.
In Kazakhstan, President Kassym-Shomart Tokayev gave the order to shoot in the event of further unrest. “I gave the order to the security forces and the army to shoot without warning in order to kill,” he said in a televised address on Friday. Whoever did not surrender would be destroyed if he threatened what he called the “terrorists”. Up to 20,000 bandits attacked the economic metropolis of Almaty and destroyed state property.
Tokayev had previously stated that order had largely been restored after the clashes of several days. On the streets of Almaty, the security forces appeared to be in control. However, gunshots could be heard again near the central square that morning. “The militants did not lay down their weapons,” Tokayev said on television. “They continue to commit crimes or to prepare them. The fight against them must continue to the end. Those who do not surrender will be destroyed.” The federal government condemned the order to shoot.
“Anyone who allows demonstrators to be shot without warning in order to kill has left the circle of civilized states,” wrote Justice Minister Marco Buschmann on Twitter. The EU is ready to help wherever it can, said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed concern about the situation in Kazakhstan. He plans to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin soon, said Macron, whose country currently holds the EU Council Presidency.
70 Russian planes landed
China’s President Xi Jinping said the People’s Republic strictly rejects any interference with the aim of destabilizing Kazakhstan. That is what Xi Tokayev said, reported the state television. Like Russia, China shares a long border with Kazakhstan. Tokayev has blamed “foreign-trained terrorists” for the worst unrest since the country gained independence in 1991. “The law enforcement officers work hard,” said his statement, which the President’s Office distributed. “The constitutional order has largely been restored in all regions of the country.” The local authorities have the situation under control. “But terrorists are still using weapons and damaging citizens’ property, so the anti-terrorist mission should continue until the militants are completely eliminated.”
State television reported more than 3,700 arrests. The Interior Ministry announced that 26 “armed criminals” had been “liquidated”. 18 police officers and national guardsmen were killed on the part of the security forces. In order to support them, the Russian-led military alliance CSTO sent soldiers to the member country Kazakhstan on Thursday at Tokayev’s request. Above all, Russia has sent paratroopers to the neighboring country in the south. According to its own statements, the CSTO has relocated soldiers from all member states to Kazakhstan; in addition to Russia and Kazakhstan, these are Belarus, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. There are around 2,500 soldiers who are supposed to stay in Kazakhstan for a few days or weeks.
More than 70 Russian planes transported material and Russian soldiers to Kazakhstan around the clock, the Interfax news agency reported, citing the Ministry of Defense in Moscow. Among other things, they were supposed to help keep Almaty airport under control, which protesters had temporarily occupied. Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said Russia and the CSTO stood by the country, as allies should do.
Protesters accuse the regime of corruption
Kazakhstan is a major oil producer and the world’s largest uranium producer. The protests were sparked by a government-imposed increase in fuel prices. However, the resignation of the government shortly afterwards and the withdrawal of the price increase for LPG did not calm people down. Many accuse the authorities and the elite of enrichment, while most of the 19 million inhabitants remain poor.
There were protests not only in Almaty, but also in other cities in the country. Since the Internet has been blocked since Wednesday, the full extent is difficult to determine. Since independence, Nursultan Nazarbayev had ruled with a hard hand as president for almost 30 years. In 2019 he handed over the office to Tokayev, the successor he had chosen. The now 81-year-old Nazarbayev and his clan retained great influence in business and politics. The protests are also directed against this.