What really happened in Kazakhstan
The story that ran this week in foreign media leaves readers with the false impression that the Kazakhstan Government has been targeting peaceful protestors. In reality, Kazakh security forces have been engaging violent mobs who were committing brazen acts of terror.
Given the volume of misinformation and the rapidly evolving situation in Kazakhstan, let us not jump to conclusions, but instead allow for a full investigation to reveal the truth on the ground.
The anti-terrorist operation is still taking place. The current situation is gradually stabilizing. Kazakhstan is ensureing the safety and protection of foreign diplomatic missions, as well as the personnel and properties of foreign companies and investors.
The Republic of Kazakhstan has repeatedly expressed its commitment to the rule of law and that all actions taken or supported are and will be in accordance with Kazakhstan's Constitution, laws, and international commitments.
So what's going on?
The protest in Kazakhstan was triggered last week by the rise in fuel prices.
As a result of the immediate uproar, the next day the Government of Kazakhstan resigned, and the fuel price rise was cancelled.
But then, suddenly, a few other powers with different agendas leveraged the situation and turned it into widespread and very violent anti-government riots.
The Kazakh Government responded with its own very tough measures. It arrested key people who the government believe are the hidden powers behind the violent riots, and called up help from neighboring, friendly countries that are in the same peace-protecting alliance. After this rapid response, the situation has become more stable.
It is too early to say what will happen next, but it is clear that Kazakh government and its neighboring countries will restore law and order without any harm to foreign investments or local infrastructure.
Here is an official statement published by the Kazakh government.
Official Statement on the events in Kazakhstan
by Special Representative of the President of
the Republic of Kazakhstan for International Cooperation Erzhan Kazykhan
Dear Compatriots, Friends and Partners,
Kazakhstan has experienced unprecedented violence across the country, which has had a dramatic impact on our people and threaten to undermine the constitutional order and considered as an assault on our statehood.
On January 2 peaceful demonstrations have been started in western regions of Kazakhstan triggered by spike in the price of liquified petroleum gas.
Addressing public grievance over the inflation, and overall social and economic problems the President has made the decision to control petroleum price and essential products and services.
In his January 4 statement, the President urged not to succumb to internal and external provocations amid rallies against increased gas prices. He called for mutual trust and dialogue rather than conflict.
Regretfully, peaceful demonstrations in Almaty and some other regions were hijacked by perpetrators and both local and external terrorist groups, speaking foreign languages.
Their criminal activities caused riots, looting, rape and mass violence.
In view of the sharp aggravation of the situation, President Tokayev has assumed the office of the Chair of the National Security Council with immediate effect. He also declared the state of emergency across the country.
Despite all these efforts the protest led to further escalation of violence all over the country, triggering riots and attacks against administrative buildings, military bases, and civil facilities, seizure of the Almaty airport, local and foreign airplanes.
This shows the high level of preparedness and coordination of the perpetrators.
No protest or demonstration in a democratic society can justify the attacks and killings of law enforcement officers.
According to the latest data, 18 law enforcement officers were killed by extremists and terrorists. More than 700 police officers, military personnel, and 1,000 civilians were injured and hospitalized.
Those, who name the extremists to be part of peaceful protestors, may they know that two of young soldiers were beheaded staying on their knees.
They also attacked first responders, including medical emergency teams and firefighters.
I would like to express my sincere condolences to the parents and families of those who were killed in deterring this hyenas attack.
Peacekeeping troops comprising of multinational forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states were deployed and will remain for a short period of time until the stabilization of the situation in Kazakhstan.
The legal framework for deployment of collective peacekeeping forces is based on Articles 2 and 4 of the «Treaty on Collective Security», the «Agreement on Peacekeeping Activities», and military assistance requested by Kazakhstan.
The peacekeeping troops are not involved in the elimination of militant groups and terrorists. Their main tasks are protection of strategic sites and administrative buildings.
=== End of statement ===