Riots in Kazakhstan leave 225 dead, according to new official tally

Violent unrest in Kazakhstan leaves 225 dead “during the state of emergency”, announced the authorities, Saturday, January 15, a spectacular increase compared to previous official reports. Among them, 19 were “law enforcement and military personnel”, Serik Shalabaev, a representative of the Prosecutor General, told a press briefing. Other corpses were those of “armed bandits who participated in terrorist attacks”, he added. “Unfortunately, civilians have also been victims of terrorist acts”.

Kazakhstan had previously acknowledged fewer than 50 dead – 26 “armed bandits” and 18 security officers – in the conflict. Health Ministry spokesman Asel Artakshinova said more than 2,600 people had been hospitalized, with 67 of them currently in serious condition. Kazakh authorities blamed the violence on bandits and “terrorists” internationals who they say hijacked the protests. Troops from the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization that intervened began to gradually withdraw from the country on Thursday.