Kazakhstan: High Level Of Organization Among Rioters, 'External Forces' In Play

Kazakhstan’s Minister of Internal Affairs Details High Level of Organisation Among Rioters

Sputnik

Kazakhstan was overwhelmed by street demonstrations last week over the overnight doubling of gas prices. The protest rapidly turned deadly in some areas, with the government reporting incidents of extreme violence against law enforcement – including at least two beheadings. Authorities estimate at least 164 people have been killed to date.

Participants in riots across Kazakhstan have acted in a highly organized manner, demonstrating a level of skill and discipline in their actions, acting Internal Affairs minister Yerlan Turgumbayev has said.

“Across the board, protesters demonstrated their professional skills. Discipline and orderliness were notable in their actions. In the areas where they were situated and before attacks, street video surveillance cameras were disabled. Roadways were barricaded, observers were stationed along the perimeter. They used radios to coordinate their actions,” Turgumbayev said in an address aired by Kazakhstan’s Khabar 24 news channel on Sunday.

Turgumbayev noted that in the city of Almaty – the former capital city and one of the epicentres of the violence, rioters enjoyed numerical superiority to law enforcement, and were better armed, in violence taking place 5 January.

“Large groups of protesters in different parts of the city attacked patrol squads. They took control of seven gun shops and seized weapons and ammunition. They seized public transport and municipal vehicles and used them to ram squads of law enforcement. They threw homemade incendiary mixtures and fired guns at police. They burned service vehicles, including fire engines,” Turgumbayev added.

The rioters also prevented ambulances from entering the conflict zone and evacuating the injured, according to the official.

On 5 January, Turgumbayev said, a highly organized group of about 20,000 people concentrated in the centre of Almaty in an attempt to take control of the city administration building.

“They were better armed and organized [than law enforcement]. Due to their significant numerical advantage, they managed to break through several lines of defence and penetrate the building. Under the onslaught of the large crowd, police were forced to retreat to avoid accidental casualties,” the minister said.

The official reported that as of this moment, the “situation has been stabilized” across all regions, with administration buildings freed of rioters and utilities and other services being restored. The state of emergency introduced by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Wednesday will remain in place until 19 January.

Around 3,000 Russian troops arrived in the country on 6 January, with Belarus, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan also sending forces. These forces’ primary mission is to ensure security at major government and military facilities across Kazakhstan, but not engage in law enforcement operations against protesters directly.

On 7 January, Tokayev warned that any rioters, including the suspected foreigners among their ranks, would be liquidated if they did not lay down their arms and surrender to the authorities.

On Saturday, the Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov told US media that Russia sees the situation in Kazakhstan as an attempt by external forces to undermine the security and integrity of the Central Asian country.