German weapons were sold to Kazakhstan for a total of around 2.2 million euros last year, equivalent to 22 million kroner. It is a relatively low number, but a complete halt is considered necessary given the situation in the country, writes the news agency.
There has been unrest and riots in Almaty, the country’s largest city and economic center, for several days. Among other things, government buildings have been set on fire and shops looted. Security forces have responded by firing sharply, and dozens of people have been killed on both sides.
The unrest began with the largest demonstrations against the government in the country in many years, which were first triggered by dissatisfaction with rising fuel prices in the oil and gas-rich ex-Soviet republic.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev dissolved the government before the military was deployed to break up the demonstrations in Almaty on Wednesday. He then asked the Russian-led military alliance CSTO to send aid, which he received.
On Friday, Tokayev ordered security forces to fire to kill.
“Those who do not surrender will be eliminated,” he said in a televised speech.
Kazakhstan is not one of the countries to which Norway exports defense equipment, according to figures from SSB.
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