Kazakh soldiers’ shoot to kill order
THE president of Kazakhstan yesterday ordered security forces to ‘shoot to kill without warning’ in an escalation of measures to end a violent uprising.
In an address to the nation, KassymJomart Tokayev called protesters ‘armed bandits’ and ‘terrorists’.
He also gave ‘special thanks’ to Russian president Vladimir Putin after a Moscowled military alliance sent troops to crack down on riots which have left dozens of protesters and security personnel dead.
Mr Tokayev claimed the unprecedented protests that began on New Year’s Day over a hike in fuel costs, but have evolved into a full-blown uprising against the regime, had been largely crushed by last night.
His order for forces to use lethal tactics triggered alarm among Western leaders.
In his third televised address this week, Mr Tokayev said: ‘Terrorists continue to damage property... and use weapons against civilians. I’ve given the order to law enforcement to shoot to kill without warning.’
He ridiculed calls from abroad for negotiations as ‘nonsense’, adding: ‘We are dealing with armed and trained bandits, both local and foreign. With bandits and terrorists. So they must be destroyed. This will be done shortly.’ Russia’s defence ministry yesterday said nine planes carrying paratroopers and hardware had landed in the Kazakh city of Almaty and that Russian forces had helped to secure the airport.
Security forces have killed dozens of protesters in the worst street protests since Kazakhstan gained independence from the Soviet Union three decades ago. At least 1,000 people are thought to have been injured and thousands more have been detained. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said she was following the developments with ‘great worry’.
US secretary of state Antony Blinken warned Kazakhstan will find it difficult to lower Russian influence after inviting in troops to quell unrest. ‘I think one lesson in recent history is that once Russians are in your house, it’s sometimes very difficult to get them to leave,’ he said.
‘Very difficult to get Russia to leave’