On Wednesday morning, clashes between protesters and security forces resumed in Kazakhstan’s largest city of Almaty, as protesters stormed the city hall, reports the RIA Novosti agency.
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The agency said protesters clashed with police officers in the center of Alma-Ata, and they also arrested and beat several security personnel in the city.
Police, using special means, including sound bombs, tried to stop a crowd of protesters armed with batons, in the city centre, but they managed to reach the square in front of the municipality and stormed it, according to the video circulating. said. ,
Protesters ransacked the Almaty administration building, its windows and doors were smashed, the media reported: pic.twitter.com/8ZMQgfCB3g
– Ren TV | News (@rentvchannel) 5 January 2022
The shooting was heard in the center of Alma-Ata, and the policemen left the area around the municipal building after demonstrators stormed it and set it on fire, according to the “Novosti” correspondent, who said they had killed the policemen. Citizens were seen leaving in clothes in taxis in front of the municipality.
A video recording shows a group of protesters taking off the safety element of their automatic rifle in the streets of Alma-Ata.
Plumes of smoke were seen rising over the municipality of Alma-Ata, the Public Prosecution Office and the headquarters of the ruling party in the city.
In Alma-Ata, the administration buildings and the prosecutor’s office are on fire. Our correspondent reports that Aqeem has been confiscated and there is a cloud of smoke. People are breaking everything around, the security forces have stepped aside. pic.twitter.com/RKOcbGI0wq
— izvestia (@izvestia_ru) 5 January 2022
City officials asked citizens not to leave their homes as “the process of imposing public order and countering extremism” continued.
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The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, this morning declared a state of emergency in Alma-Ata province from Wednesday to January 19, following similar measures in relation to the city, including the imposition of a curfew from 23:00 to seven in the morning. Is. The province of Alma-Ata and Mangistau is one of the biggest hotspots in the west of the country.
In view of the state of emergency, several trains have been suspended in these areas since this morning.
Later today, Tokayev also declared a state of emergency in the capital, Nur-Sultan.
This comes after the President of Kazakhstan signed a decree on the resignation of the government and the appointment of Alikhan Smilov as acting prime minister, noting that the dismissed government has some guilt for what is happening.
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Health officials in Alma Atal said 190 people sought medical help in the city after demonstrations and clashes on Tuesday involving 137 policemen and 53 civilians, indicating that seven people are in intensive care, four of whom are policemen.
Earlier, the Kazakh Interior Ministry said that more than 200 people were arrested last night during “illegal activities” in the country.
Protests resumed Wednesday in several other regions of Kazakhstan, with protesters storming a local government building in the northwestern city of Aktobe, but police foiled the attack, according to media outlets.
And the agency “Interfax” reported that riots are also continuing in the largest Kazakh oil field “Tengiz” in the west of the country.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow was “closely following developments in the situation in Kazakhstan,” noting that there were no reports of injuries to Russian citizens.
Russian Senator Vladimir Zabarov, First Deputy Chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the Council of the Russian Federation, expressed confidence that the Kazakhstani authorities will be able to resolve the situation in the country, adding that Russia is ready to provide any non- if necessary. Military aid to neighboring countries.
Source: Agencies