(Almaty) Riots in Kazakhstan this week are believed to have left more than 160 dead as authorities in Central Asia’s largest country continue their relentless crackdown, with nearly 6,000 arrests.
In Almaty alone, the economic capital where the most violent riots took place, 103 people were killed out of a total of 164 in the country, according to a report which appeared on the government’s Telegram channel on Sunday before being withdrawn, the Ministry of Health having indicated to Russian and Kazakh media that the information had been published in error.
However, there has been no official denial of these figures or a new assessment.
In a statement sent to media on Monday, the Foreign Ministry said foreign media reports created “the false impression that the government of Kazakhstan has targeted peaceful protesters.” Our security forces faced violent crowds who committed shameless acts of terror ”.
The toll, which could not be independently verified, is on the rise, with authorities having so far reported 26 protesters and 16 members of the security forces killed and more than 2,000 injured.
PHOTO ALEXANDR BOGDANOV, FRANCE-PRESS AGENCY
Police officers blocked a street in central Almaty following a demonstration on January 7.
The presidency announced Sunday that 5,800 people had been arrested, including “a substantial number of foreigners”, and 125 investigations opened in the wake of these riots unprecedented since the independence, in 1989, of this country of 19 million. inhabitants rich in hydrocarbons.
“The situation is stabilized in all regions of the country”, even if the security forces are still carrying out “cleaning” operations, declared the presidency after a crisis meeting with the head of state, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The protest began in the provinces last Sunday after the increase in gas prices, before reaching large cities, including Almaty, where the police fired live ammunition at demonstrators storming official buildings.
According to the Kazakh Interior Ministry, the material damage caused by the violence was initially estimated at around 175 million euros.
More than 100 businesses and banks were looted and more than 400 vehicles destroyed, according to the same source.
Kazakhstan announced on Saturday the arrest of the former director of the intelligence services Karim Massimov, the first major figure arrested, on suspicion of “high treason”.
Refusing any dialogue with the demonstrators, President Tokayev had authorized his forces on Friday to “shoot to kill”.
Condemning this order, the head of the American diplomacy, Antony Blinken, estimated Sunday on ABC that the authorities in Kazakhstan should be able to deal with the challenges they face peacefully, to ensure that the rights of those who demonstrate peacefully be protected ”.
PHOTO ALEXANDR BOGDANOV, FRANCE-PRESS AGENCY
Internet restored Monday in Almaty
The Internet was reestablished Monday in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, after a five-day shutdown as deadly clashes left dozens dead, an AFP correspondent noted.
In the economic capital of 1.8 million people, local and foreign websites were again accessible on Monday, declared a day of mourning after the worst unrest in the independent history of the former Soviet republic.
Life was gradually returning to normal in Almaty on Monday, AFP correspondents noted, with public transport visible on the city’s roads for the first time since the violence began.
“Pain” of the Pope
The situation in Kazakhstan is being followed with concern abroad. Pope Francis thus expressed his “pain” on Sunday and called for “dialogue” to find peace.
Moscow has deployed troops to the Central Asian country as part of a multinational collective security treaty organization (CSTO) contingent, at Tokayev’s call.
The United States said it would be “very difficult” for Kazakhstan to get the Russian military to leave, a criticism Moscow called “crass on Saturday”.
While American and Russian representatives are due to meet from Sunday evening in Geneva to talk about Ukraine and Europe, Moscow has ruled out any discussion with Washington on Kazakhstan.
“This question does not concern them at all,” swept the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Riabkov.