Riots in Kazakhstan heat up, 18 security officers killed-748 injured

Almaty –

Protests have turned violent in Kazakhstan. There were 18 security officers who died and 748 others were injured while trying to quell the riots.

Reported from AFP, Thursday (6/1/2022), the number of victims was reported by Russian news agencies citing data from the Ministry of the Interior Kazakhstan.

Russian news agencies Interfax and RIA Novosti also quoted the ministry as saying 2,298 people had so far been detained after protests over the fuel price hike turned into clashes with officers.

Demonstrations spread throughout the country in Central Asia. Demonstrators are angry over rising prices for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which is widely used to fuel cars in the west of the country.

Thousands of people took to the streets in the city of Almaty and in the western province of Mangystau. They say the price hikes are unfair given Kazakhstan’s huge energy reserves.

“The most difficult situation remains in Almaty, where gunmen confiscated and partially destroyed buildings of state agencies, financial organizations, television companies and trade facilities,” Kazakhstan’s interior ministry said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies.

In the western province, parts of a highway and one railway line have been blocked.

“Patrols by police and National Guard squads have been intensified in the area, (and) roadblocks have been created,” the ministry said.

“Criminals are being identified and detained or disappeared in the event of armed resistance to legal demands to lay down their weapons,” the statement continued.

Dozens of Demonstrators Killed

Security forces are also said to have killed dozens of demonstrators who tried to storm government buildings. The incident came after a Russian-led military alliance agreed to send troops to help quell rising unrest in the country.

Reported from AFP, police said dozens of people were killed in clashes with security forces at government buildings in the country’s largest city, Almaty on Wednesday (5/1) evening local time.

“Last night, extremist forces tried to attack government buildings, the Almaty city police department, as well as the local police commissariat. Dozens of attackers were killed,” police spokeswoman Saltanat Azirbek was quoted as saying by the Interfax-Kazakhstan news agencies, TASS and Ria Novosti.

(haf / maa)

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