On January 9th, Kazakhstan’s emergency response officials stated that 5,800 people had been taken into police custody in connection to the violent anti-government protests in the country.
According to a government press release, many of the detainees are foreigners. The press release added that officials have so far initiated 125 criminal cases.
On Friday, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev had stated, “Terrorists continue to damage property… and use weapons against civilians. I have given the order to law enforcement to shoot to kill without warning.” (Translated)
On Sunday, Kazakhstan’s Health Ministry reported a death toll of 164 people, with 103 of those fatalities in Almaty – the country’s largest metropolis.
President Tokayev stated that law enforcement agencies would take the necessary steps to fully restore public order and instructed officials to begin reconstructing administrative buildings and public facilities damaged during the protests.
