149 Civilians, 11 Law Enforcement Personnel Dead in Almaty Unrest

The unrest that swept Kazakhstan in early January left at least 149 civilians and 11 law enforcement personnel dead in the city of Almaty, according to a police chief.

Last week, the United Nations called on the authorities in Kazakhstan to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, as the death toll from the recent unrest has risen to 164, calling for immediate, independent investigations into the killings.

According to the United Nations Information Center, a spokeswoman for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Liz Throssell, stressed that under international law, people have the right to peaceful protest and the right to express their opinions, and they should not be detained for expressing them.

Since the beginning of January, Kazakhstan has been witnessing massive demonstrations, accompanied by violence, in protest against a huge increase in liquefied petroleum gas prices.