(CNN) — The president of KazakhstanKassym-Jomart Tokayev ordered security forces to “kill without warning” to stop the violent protests that have paralyzed the former Soviet republic.
In a defiant public speech on Friday, Tokayev said that the riots that began earlier this week as protests once morest rising fuel prices had been planned by well-trained “terrorist bandits” both inside and outside the country.
Tokayev said the situation had “stabilized” in Kazakhstan’s largest city, Almaty, and that the “introduction of the state of emergency is paying off.”
“But terrorists continue to damage state and private property and use weapons once morest citizens,” he said. “I gave the order to the forces of order and the army to open fire to kill without warning.”
The speech attempted to undermine the narrative that the demonstrations were the product of popular unrest that became increasingly destructive and deadly. Tokayev said the violence was the product of a well-coordinated enemy, armed with sleeper cells carrying out “terrorist attacks” and “specialists trained in ideological sabotage, skillfully using disinformation or ‘falsehoods’ and capable of manipulating people’s moods.” .
“His actions showed the presence of a clear plan of attacks on military, administrative and social facilities in almost all areas, coherent coordination of actions, high combat readiness and brutal cruelty,” Tokayev said. “They need to be destroyed.”
Riot police officers prepare to detain protesters during a protest in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022. (AP Photo / Vladimir Tretyakov)
The demonstrations are the biggest challenge yet for the autocrat’s government, with initial public anger over rising fuel prices expanding to broader discontent once morest the government over corruption, living standards, poverty. and unemployment in the oil-rich nation, according to human rights organizations.
Protesters in Almaty reportedly stormed the airport, forcibly entered government buildings and set fire to the city’s main administrative office, local media reported. Dozens were reported dead and hundreds more injured in clashes there on Thursday.
Tokayev, in his speech, highlighted that peaceful protest was legalized in 2020 to promote democracy. However, he said that calls from abroad to find a peaceful solution were “nonsense”.
“What kind of negotiation can there be with criminals, murderers?” Added Tokayev.
Tokayev said a contingent from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a Russian-led military alliance made up of former Soviet states, arrived in the country “for a short period of time” to lead perform advocacy and support functions.
The Kazakh leader thanked the heads of the CSTO countries for their support and expressed “special thanks” to Russian President Vladimir Putin for “reacting very quickly and, more importantly, in a friendly manner to my request.” of a contingent of the CSTO.
He also thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping, the presidents of the other CSTO member countries, the presidents of Uzbekistan, Turkey and “the leaders of the UN and other international organizations for their words of support.”
CNN’s Joshua Berlinger contributed to this report.
