* Two limog intelligence officers
* A possible government reshuffle on Tuesday
* No dissension between the former and the current president-spokesperson
* Internet access disrupted, no statement from the demonstrators
by Olzhas Asezov and Tamara Vaal
ALMATY, January 9 (Reuters) – Kazakh President Kassim-Jomart Tokaev sacked two other national security officials on Sunday as the authorities announce a stabilization of the situation in the country after several days of violence.
These two officials, Marat Osipov and Daulet Ergozhin, were deputies to Karim Massimov, the former head of the national security committee of Kazakhstan, himself arrested on Saturday on suspicion of treason.
The former Soviet republic is currently facing the worst violence in its history since gaining independence thirty years ago. The packs were triggered against a backdrop of inflation and rising energy prices.
Thousands of people have since been arrested, while public buildings have been set on fire in large-scale anti-government protests.
Friday, the president of Kazakhstan announced to have authorized the police force to open fire without warning to put an end to the disorders he said, generated by “terrorists”.
The Kazakh authorities said on Sunday that they had stabilized the situation in the country and that “strategic sites” were now under control.
At the request of the Kazakh president, Moscow sent troops to help the Kazakh authorities restore order within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), which links Russia, Armenia, Bilorussia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
“STABILIZED SITUATION”
“The situation has been stabilized in all regions of the country,” said the office of the presidency, adding that the police had regained control of the administrative buildings and essential services were on the verge of being restored. .
Almaty, the country’s largest city, life appeared to have resumed its normal course on Sunday as security forces set up checkpoints around the city.
The Place de la Rpublique, the city’s main artery, is however still a loop. Reuters noted in particular that two military vehicles equipped with machine guns were heading towards this place. The vehicles set on fire during the demonstrations were also withdrawn.
Supermarket chain Magnum said 15 of its 68 Almaty stores had been looted.
According to public and Russian media, citing a government publication on social media, 164 people were killed in clashes with security forces. However, this figure has not been confirmed by health authorities and the police.
According to the police, 6,044 people were also arrested.
These various reports are difficult to verify, access to the Internet network and to telecommunications so disrupted.
Since the start of the protests, no group has emerged to speak out on behalf of the protesters.
POSSIBLE GOVERNMENTAL CHANGEOVER TUESDAY
The seizure of power on the powerful intelligence organ could be the sign of a fracture within the leadership team as Kassim-Jomart Tokaev seeks to consolidate his authority.
Karim Massimov, sacked from his post of intelligence chief on Wednesday, was Prime Minister of Kazakhstan twice and worked with Nursultan Nazarbayev, the man who ruled the country with an iron fist until 2019 before relinquishing power. presidency Kassim-Jomart Tokaev.
The Kazakh authorities have not developed the accusations of treason brought against Karim Massimov. The latter could not be contacted immediately for a comment.
In a statement intended to minimize speculation on possible dissensions between Nursultan Nazarbaev and Kassim-Jomart Tokaev, the spokesman for the former Kazakh head of state assured that the two men have always been “on the same side of the barricades. “.
Kassim-Jomart Tokaev’s spokesman said, for his part, that the Kazakh president could carry out a government reshuffle on Tuesday in favor of a speech in parliament.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and other leaders of CSTO countries will hold a video conference on Monday to discuss the crisis in Kazakhstan, the Kremlin said.
The United States has criticized the deployment of Russian troops in Kazakhstan and wonders if this decision presented by the CSTO as a mission of a few days or weeks will not turn into a much longer presence.
The American Secretary of State Antony Blinken also denounced the order given by the Kazakh authorities to the police to shoot to kill. (Report Olzhas Auzeyov, Tamara Vaal, Mariya Gordeeva Robin Paxton; edited by Mark Trevelyan and Tom Balmforth French version Claude Chendjou)