Kazakhstan: 2700 People Detained over Unrest

Kazakh authorities have arrested more than 2,700 people since the riots broke out in Alma-Ata. 

 

In a statement on Tuesday, the authorities said, "Since the beginning of the anti-terror operation, 2,748 participants in illegal acts, looting, and other crimes were arrested. 131 firearms and 4,179 pieces of ammunition were seized."

 

It is worth mentioning that, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken urged in a telephone call with his Kazakh counterpart Mukhtar Tileuberdi for a peaceful settlement for the situation in Kazakhstan.

 

Blinken renewed the United States’ full support for Kazakhstan’s constitutional institutions and media freedom, according to what was published by the US State Department, in a statement on its website.

The two ministers discussed the ongoing state of emergency currently imposed in Kazakhstan. Blinken also called for a peaceful settlement of the crisis.

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.