As of: January 8th, 2022 9:12 a.m.
Kazakhstan is not coming to rest. Shootings and explosions were reported during the night. In addition, ex-prime minister Massimov is said to have been arrested. The information cannot be verified independently.
The situation in the Republic of Kazakhstan, which has been badly shaken by riots, remains confusing. State television reported on the night that security forces continued to crack down on demonstrators in several cities in the country. This information could not be independently verified.
Most recently, the operations focused on the metropolis of Almaty, which has been rioting for days. According to the portal Vlast.kz, there were shootings in at least two places in the economic metropolis. There were also explosions. Eyewitnesses reported a burning car. Security forces patrolled armored vehicles. Even at night, there was little independent information from there. The internet was at least temporarily switched off. Foreigners are currently not allowed into the ex-Soviet republic.
Kazakh President Tokayev gives security forces an order to shoot protesters
Ina Ruck, ARD Moscow, daily news 8 p.m., 7.1.2022
Ex-Prime Minister Massimov arrested
According to official information, Karim Massimov, who had been dismissed a few days ago as head of the domestic intelligence service, was arrested. This authority has now initiated “preliminary investigations”. He is accused of treason. Details were not given. Other senior officials are also believed to have been arrested.
Massimov was Kazakhstan’s prime minister twice and is considered a close ally of the authoritarian ex-president Nursultan Nazarbayev. Under Nazarbayev, Massimov was temporarily head of the presidential administration.
Tokayev speaks of 20,000 “terrorists”
In the evening, President Kassym-Shomart Tokayev spoke of up to 20,000 “terrorists” who attacked Almaty in several waves. The “bandits and terrorists” are well trained and organized. The country, which is rich in oil and gas reserves, has been experiencing serious riots for days.
A good week ago, the unrest in the authoritarian republic was triggered by displeasure at the rise in gas prices. The demonstrations turned into protests, including violent ones, against the government. Many people are frustrated with corruption and abuse of power.
Security forces have orders to shoot
State television reported on Friday that 26 demonstrators had already been killed. In addition, there have been more than 4,000 arrests across the country. It was feared that there could now be many more civilian deaths. According to official information, at least 18 police officers and soldiers have also died so far.
President Tokayev has given security forces an order to shoot protesters. He defended this on Twitter that there would be no talks with “terrorists” who killed people and set buildings on fire.
International concern
The action sparked concern abroad. Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for an end to the violence. He appealed to the authoritarian leadership: “Please come back to peaceful further development in the country.”
Because of the conflict, the federal government stops exports of armaments to the former Soviet republic. According to information from the dpa news agency, the necessary steps have been taken to prevent such goods from being exported to Kazakhstan. Last year, 25 licenses for the export of armaments to Kazakhstan with a total value of around 2.2 million euros were granted.
The US State Department has allowed consular staff to leave the country if it is not urgently needed.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance and its member states were very concerned and regretted the deaths. It is important that the violence ends and that human rights are respected. This included the right to peaceful demonstrations.
Why is the situation in Kazakhstan so confusing?
Andrea Beer, ARD Moscow, 8 January 2022 6:39 a.m.