ALMATY (Reuters) – Kazakh authorities said on Sunday they had stabilized the situation in the country and that “strategic sites” are now under the control of the Russian-led military alliance to restore order, while the former soviet republic is in the throes of the worst violence since gaining independence thirty years ago.
Security forces and intelligence officials informed Kazakh President Kassim-Jomart Tokaev that they were continuing “clean-up” operations.
According to the public channel Khabar 24, 164 people were killed during clashes with the security forces.
According to the police, 6,044 people were also arrested in connection with the violence in which several public buildings were set on fire.
On Friday, Kassim-Jomart Tokaev authorized the police to open fire without warning to put an end to the disorders generated by, what he called, “terrorists”.
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.
“A number of strategic sites have been placed
under the protection of the peacekeeping contingent of CSTO member states, “said the office of the presidency, without specifying the sites concerned.
The Kazakh authorities ensure that the situation is stabilized in all regions.
“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. .
Violent protests erupted in Kazakhstan this week amid inflation and rising energy prices.
The Kazakh authorities announced on Saturday the arrest of Karim Massimov, former head of the national security committee of Kazakhstan, on suspicion of treason.
(Report Olzhas Asezov and Tamara Vaal, French version Matthieu Protard)