Protests in Kazakhstan: 4,266 Detained, Bread Shortages, Looting and Bodies on Streets
Nazarbayev has not left Kazakhstan.
More than 4,000 people have been detained in Kazakhstan, looting continues in Almaty, and bread is in short supply. Bodies are lying in the street. We bring you the latest news on the protests in Kazakhstan.
4,266 people detained
Kazakhstan's Interior Ministry says that during the protests 4,266 people, including foreign nationals, have been taken to police stations.
“More than 100 people have been detained in one of the villages of Almaty Region. Preliminary data indicates that citizens of a neighboring state have been detained,” the ministry said.
In Almaty, in the Kalkaman microdistrict, police seized cartridges, ammunition and stolen goods — bicycles, televisions and mobile phones — at one of the car service stations. The Interior Ministry said a weapons cache, including several automatic rifles and pistols, was discovered in a settlement in Zhambyl Region.
Media reports say some of those detained face life imprisonment. The internet has reappeared in the capital, Nur-Sultan. Some websites that had previously been blocked have been restored — a number of news outlets, the president's website and bank websites.
The “digital” minister said the authorities restricted internet access because protesters are using communications to coordinate and plan their actions.
According to him, officials have developed a mechanism under which, despite the full internet shutdown, access to certain resources will be provided around the clock where possible.
The National Bank said that regions with calm conditions have sufficient cash in ATMs.
Former head of National Security Committee detained
Kazakhstan's National Security Committee reported the detention of its former chairman and former prime minister Karim Masimov, who is suspected of high treason.
“On January 6 of this year, the National Security Committee launched a pre-trial investigation into high treason under Article 175, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. On the same day, former KNB Chairman Masimov K.K. and other individuals were detained on suspicion of committing this crime and placed in a temporary detention facility,” the statement says.
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to send troops
The parliaments of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have decided to send their troops to Kazakhstan as part of the CSTO.
Kyrgyzstan's parliament backed the president's decision to send servicemen on a “peacekeeping mission” of the CSTO to Kazakhstan. The session was held behind closed doors. According to lawmakers, 69 voted “for” and 7 “against.”
Tajikistan's parliament also approved sending troops to Kazakhstan. “The joint session considered only one issue and gave consent to use the Armed Forces of the Republic of Tajikistan outside the country to fulfill the international obligations of the Republic of Tajikistan,” the official state news agency said in a statement.
A source in the security services told the Tajik service of Radio Liberty that on the night of January 7, Tajikistan sent about 200 servicemen to Kazakhstan as part of the CSTO peacekeeping force.
According to the source, Tajik servicemen will take part in guarding schools, hospitals and social facilities. They will not take part in suppressing protests.
Situation in Almaty
On January 7, looting continued in Almaty, bread was in short supply, and people lined up at ATMs. Bodies were lying in Republic Square.
On the afternoon of January 7, journalists saw the bodies of three people in Republic Square in Almaty. The first was in a car in a ditch at the intersection of Nazarbayev Avenue and Satpayev Street. The second was opposite a building at 42 Baisseitova Street. The third body was in a car at the intersection of Satpayev and Zheltoksan streets. There were bullet marks on the windshield.
Reporters visited city hospitals No. 1 and No. 7, which local media reported had been “occupied by terrorists.” Currently, only patients and doctors are there.
Some shopping centers in the city are under military watch. “Radio Azattyk reports: ‘Apparently, the looting of the Magnum supermarket, located in the Aport shopping center on the outskirts of the city, is continuing. Volunteers are near the store trying to prevent looting. They are holding sticks and constantly warning people stealing food from the supermarket that what they are carrying belongs to someone else. But no one is listening.’”
Media report long queues at gas stations and in front of ATMs. Some residents said they had run out of cash. If the situation continues for several more days, people will start going hungry. In addition, stores are short of bread.
Public transport in Almaty is not running. There are also long queues at railway stations.
Nazarbayev has not left the country
Press secretary for Nursultan Nazarbayev said the country's first president has not left the country, he is in the capital and is in contact with President Tokayev.
According to the press secretary, Nazarbayev calls on everyone to unite around the president of Kazakhstan “to overcome current challenges and ensure the integrity of our country.”
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