Kazakhstan: President Tokayev appeals to CSTO for help amid mass protests

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Kazakh President Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev appealed to the heads of member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation for help in ‘overcoming the terrorist threat’ during a meeting of the country’s Security Council in Nur-Sultan on Wednesday.

“Today I appealed to the heads of CSTO states to assist Kazakhstan in overcoming this terrorist threat. In fact, it is no longer a threat, it is undermining the integrity of the state, and that is the most important, it is an attack on our citizens, who are asking me, the head of state, to help them urgently,” said Tokayev.

According to the head of state, ‘real terrorists’ who have been trained abroad are now rampaging in Almaty and other cities. In this connection, the leader called an appeal to his CSTO partners ‘absolutely appropriate and timely.’ Tokayev also hoped that the Kazakh people would support the decision.

Protests are underway in Almaty, Uralsk, Aktau, Aktobe, Shymkent, and other cities. The regions are experiencing problems with communication, internet connection, and television broadcasting.

According to Kazakhstani media, demonstrators are storming buildings, setting up barricades, clashing with security forces, and causing arson.

Unauthorised rallies began in the Mangistau region of Kazakhstan on Sunday after prices for liquefied gas rose from 60 to 120 tenge (€0.12 - €0.24) per litre from January 1. The price hike came after the government lifted price controls on liquefied petroleum gas citing a need to liberalise the market.

SOUNDBITE:

SOT, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kazakhstan’s President (Russian): “I am heading to the counter-terrorism headquarters. We are well aware of the statistics of the terrorist attacks perpetrated by real terrorists. Now they are rampaging in Almaty, in other cities, they are seizing infrastructure and, most importantly, capturing buildings where arms are kept. There are battles with cadets. Now there is a battle near Almaty with airborne troops of the Ministry of Defense, a brutal battle. Therefore, I believe that from our side, given that these terrorist gangs are international, have undergone serious training abroad, and their attack on Kazakhstan can and should be considered as an act of aggression. In this regard, relying on the Collective Security Treaty, today I appealed to the heads of CSTO states to assist Kazakhstan in overcoming this terrorist threat. In fact, it is no longer a threat, it is undermining of the integrity of the state, and that is the most important, it is an attack on our citizens, who are asking me, the head of state, to help them urgently. It is my constitutional duty to take care of the welfare, the security and the tranquility of our citizens. Therefore, I consider it absolutely adequate and well-timed to address my CSTO partners. I believe that the people of Kazakhstan will support this decision. Together we will win! Terrorist gangs are seizing, as I said, large infrastructure facilities, the Almaty airport has been seized, about five aircraft, including foreign aircraft [were captured]. Almaty is under attack, destruction, vandalism. Almaty was attacked, destroyed, vandalized, the residents of Almaty became victims of attacks by terrorists, bandits, therefore it is our duty, including the members of the Security Council who are present here, to take all possible actions to protect our state from external threats. I think this concludes the meeting today and we can continue working. Let us hope, that everything will be all right. The citizens of Kazakhstan, whether you are residents of the capital city, residents of Almaty or other cities that suffered from terrorist aggression, I want to assure you that I will do my best as President of the Republic of Kazakhstan to protect your interests, your vital interests. I think we will win together. This is a very difficult page in the history of our state. We should analyse a lot: how, why it happened. Nevertheless, the main thing now is to protect our country, to protect our citizens.”

#KazakhstanProtests #Kazakhstan

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