World

Kazakh leader orders use of lethal force in any further demonstrations

Kazakhstan's president authorized security forces on Friday to shoot to kill those participating in unrest, opening the door for a dramatic escalation in a crackdown on anti-government protests that have turned violent.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev says 'terrorists' to blame for recent violence in Central Asian country

In this video screen grab, Russian airborne troops vehicles depart aboard a military transport aircraft from Chkalovsky Airfield in Moscow Region on Friday to join the Collective Security Treaty Organization's peacekeeping force in Kazakhstan. (Russian Defence Ministry/handout/TASS/Getty Images)

Kazakhstan's president authorized security forces on Friday to shoot to kill those participating in unrest, opening the door for a dramatic escalation in a crackdown on anti-government protests that have turned violent.

The Central Asian nation this week experienced its worst street protests since gaining independence from the Soviet Union three decades ago, and dozens have been killed in the tumult. The demonstrations began over a near-doubling of prices for a type of vehicle fuel but quickly spread across the country, reflecting wider discontent with authoritarian rule.

In a televised address to the nation, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev used harsh rhetoric, referring to those involved in the turmoil as "terrorists," "bandits" and "militants" — though it was unclear what led the peaceful protests to first gather steam and then descend into violence. No protest leaders have emerged so far.

The exterior of the city administration headquarters in Almaty, Kazakhstan — set on fire during recent protests — is seen Friday. (Reuters)

"I have given the order to law enforcement and the army to shoot to kill without warning," Tokayev said. "Those who don't surrender will be eliminated."

Concerns about possible broader crackdown

Concerns grew in recent days that an even broader crackdown might be coming, as internet and cellphone service was severely disrupted and sometimes totally blocked, and several airports closed — making it difficult to understand what was happening inside the country and for images of the unrest to reach the outside world. Adding to those fears was Tokayev's request for help from a Russia-led military alliance, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, whose troops began arriving Thursday.

On Friday, Kazakhstan's Interior Ministry reported that security forces have killed 26 protesters during the unrest, which escalated sharply on Wednesday. Another 26 were wounded and more than 3,800 people have been detained. A total of 18 law enforcement officers were reported killed, and over 700 injured.

The numbers could not be independently verified, and it was not clear if more people may have died in the melee as the protests turned extremely violent, with people storming government buildings and setting them ablaze.

Kazakh law enforcement officers block a street in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan on Thursday, after protests against the government, following authorities' decision to lift price caps on liquefied petroleum gas. (Turar Kazangapov/Reuters)

More skirmishes in Almaty were reported on Friday morning. Russia's state news agency Tass reported that the building occupied by the Kazakh branch of the Mir broadcaster, funded by several former Soviet states, was on fire.

But in other parts of the country life started to return to normal. On Friday morning, news reports said the internet was partially restored in the capital, Nur-Sultan, but it remained unclear for how long.

The Almaty airport — stormed and seized earlier by the protesters — was back under the control of Kazakh law enforcement and CTSO forces, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said. But the facility will remain shut at least until Sunday, the Kazakh TV channel Khabar 24 reported, citing the airport's spokespeople.

People line up to get cash from ATMs in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, amid protests against the government. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said on Friday that constitutional order had mostly been restored. (Turar Kazangapov/Reuters)

Hours before he authorized the use of lethal force against those participating in unrest, Tokayev indicated that some measure of calm had been restored, saying "local authorities are in control of the situation."

Tokayev has vacillated between trying to mollify the protesters — including issuing a 180-day price cap on vehicle fuel and a moratorium on utility rate increases — and promising harsh measures to quell the unrest.

As he vowed a tougher response, he called on the CSTO alliance for help. A total of 2,500 troops have arrived so far, all of them in Almaty, Kazakh media reported, citing foreign ministry officials.

WATCH | Troops arrive in Kazakhstan: 

Russian troops called in to quell violent Kazakhstan protests

3 years ago
Duration 2:06
Russia and Belarus have sent troops into Kazakhstan to try to quell violent protests over inflation and rising gas prices.

Kazakh officials have insisted that troops from the alliance, which includes several former Soviet republics, will not be fighting the demonstrators, and instead will guard government institutions. It wasn't immediately clear whether the foreign troops deployed thus far were involved in suppressing the unrest.

The involvement of CSTO forces is an indication that Kazakhstan's neighbors, particularly Russia, are concerned the turmoil could spread.

Claims of foreign involvement

In his address to the nation, Tokayev repeated his allegations that "foreign actors" along with "independent media" helped incite the turmoil.

He offered no evidence for those claims, but such rhetoric has often been used by former Soviet nations, most prominently Russia and Belarus, which sought to suppress mass anti-government demonstrations in recent years.

Kazakhstan, which spans a territory the size of Western Europe, borders Russia and China and sits atop colossal reserves of oil, natural gas, uranium and precious metals that make it strategically and economically important — and the crisis sparked concern in many quarters.

Kazakh law enforcement officers block a street leading to the official presidential residence in Nur-Sultan on Thursday after protests against the government. (Turar Kazangapov/Reuters)

Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, said she was following the developments with a "great worry," while French president Emmanuel Macron called for de-escalation.

But China appeared to step up its support for Kazakhstan's government on Friday.

Kazakhstan is a critical component in China's "Belt and Road" overland connection to Europe and persistent unrest in the country could upend Beijing's hopes for closer trade and political relations with the continent.

Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his condolences to Tokayev over the "large-scale riot," praising him for having "decisively taken strong measures at critical moments and quickly calming down the situation."