Over 160 killed in violence in Kazakhstan; CSTO to hold meeting on Monday

Nur-Sultan/Moscow: – The action against the violent protests that started in Kazakhstan last week has intensified. More than 160 people have been killed in action, and more than 2,000 have been injured. The security agencies have detained more than 5,800 protestors.

Meanwhile, Russia has informed that the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) meeting will be held on Monday to discuss the protests in Kazakhstan. Last week, protests started in two cities in Kazakhstan over the increase in fuel prices. Within the next 24 hours, the protests spread to other major cities.

The protestors turned violent in Almaty, the largest city of Kazakhstan. The protestors launched attacks on the police and military units and gained control over the government buildings and airports. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev adopted an aggressive stand and ordered firing on the protestors. He accused that the people attacking the security forces and destroying public property were terrorists, not protesters. He also claimed that there could be a foreign hand behind this. President Tokayev appealed for Russian help to control the protests.

Russia assured to send a peacekeeping force led by the CSTO, the organisation of the former members of the Soviet Union. After that, the Russian and Armenian military units reached Kazakhstan. Kazakh military also has been deployed at certain locations and the government informed that additional deployments were made at sensitive locations. At the same time, comprehensive action is being taken against the protestors and claims of the situation having been brought under control are being made. The health department informed that 164 people had been killed so far in action. The maximum number, 103, is from the city of Almaty. It has also been reported that 2,200 protestors have been injured. As per the information given by the internal security department, 1,300 soldiers and policemen have been injured. The number of people detained by the security agencies has reached 5,800. On Saturday, former chief of counter-terrorism unit Kasim Masimov and others were arrested by the security agencies under treason.

A virtual meeting of the CSTO, the organisation of former members of the Soviet Union, has been convened on Monday. It is being said that five heads of state, along with the Russian President, will be attending the meeting.