Kazakhstan has been experiencing unprecedented protests for days – especially in the metropolis of Almaty in the southeast.
(Photo: dpa)
Nur-Sultan After serious riots with dead and injured in Central Asian Kazakhstan, international concerns about a further escalation are growing. “A quick calming down of the situation is essential in order to avert further bloodshed, a destabilization of the country and thus also damage to the economic and investment location Kazakhstan,” said the Eastern Committee of German Business. Kazakhstan is “by far the most important German trading partner in Central Asia”.
The Foreign Office reported that they were exchanging ideas with closest local partners about developments in Kazakhstan. The task now is to find a peaceful solution “within the framework of a comprehensive dialogue with all those involved”.
The violence, but also the massive restrictions on access to the Internet and social media, are viewed with concern. Kazakhstan’s obligations under the OSCE to uphold fundamental freedoms also included maintaining free access to information, freedom of the press and freedom of assembly.
The organization Reporters Without Borders lamented reports of police violence against media representatives in the authoritarian country that borders Russia and China. In addition, the Internet was repeatedly blocked in the ex-Soviet republic with its 18 million inhabitants. “That makes it difficult to provide independent information about what is going on.”
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The USA also spoke out again for a peaceful solution to the crisis that had been triggered days ago by the sharp rise in gas prices. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken phoned his Kazakh colleague Muchtar Tleuberdi on Thursday evening. Blinken had reaffirmed “the United States’ full support for the constitutional institutions of Kazakhstan and the freedom of the media,” the State Department in Washington said later. There were also warnings from the EU that the violence must come to an end.
Russia sends troops
A Russian-led military alliance has meanwhile sent the first soldiers to the ex-Soviet republic at the request of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. According to the organization of the collective security treaty, among other things, Russian paratroopers were deployed as part of a “peacekeeping force”. In addition to Russia and Kazakhstan, the alliance also includes Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. These states had also sent armed forces, it was said.
Overview of the German-Kazakh economic relations
Kazakhstan has been experiencing unprecedented protests for days – especially in the metropolis of Almaty in the southeast. According to official figures, at least 18 security guards were killed there. It is feared that there could also have been many civilian casualties.
In addition, according to the Interior Ministry, 26 demonstrators were killed. In addition, there were more than 3,000 arrests, the state broadcaster Khabar 24 reported on Friday morning, citing the ministry. The authority therefore spoke of “armed criminals”. Another 18 of them were injured.
State television had already spoken of dozens of “eliminated” people in the metropolis of Almaty on Thursday. That already suggested civilian casualties. The authorities had initially only confirmed the deaths of 18 security forces
The unrest in the ex-Soviet republic, which is rich in oil and gas, was triggered by displeasure at the rise in fuel prices at petrol stations. But they quickly turned into sometimes violent protests against the government.
Kazakhstan was ruled for decades by the authoritarian ruler Nursultan Nazarbayev, who retained great influence even after his resignation in 2019. In response to the protests, the current President Tokayev dismissed the entire government and imposed a nationwide state of emergency.
More: What the unrest in Kazakhstan means for Russia, China and the USA