Death toll of Kazakhstan unrest announced

The death toll due to the unrest in Kazakhstan has been announced today.


The death toll due to the unrest in Kazakhstan is 225 people, including 19 members of the security forces, it was announced today, January 15. The prosecutor general’s office added that the bodies have been delivered to morgues across the country.
The head of criminal prosecution at the prosecutor’s office, Serik Shalabayev, told a briefing that the number includes civilians and armed ‘bandits.’
He did not provide an exact breakdown of the numbers and said figures could be updated later.
The violent unrest began this month in the Central Asian state where oil is produced after an increase in car fuel prices. The death numbers provided by Shalabayev confirmed the violence was the deadliest in the country’s post-Soviet history.
According to Shalabayev, 50,000 people joined the riots in the former Soviet republic on January 5 when they were at their peak. Crowds stormed and set alight government buildings, banks, shops and cars in several major cities.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev turned to a military bloc led by Russia for help as the unrest escalated, sidelining his former patron and predecessor Nursultan Nazarbayev by taking over the national security council.
Following complaints of torture and beatings of those detained in the aftermath, Tokayev ordered police today to be lenient on individuals who have not committed grave crimes.


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Written by

Laura Kemp

Originally from UK, Laura is based in Axarquia and is a writer for the Euro Weekly News covering news and features. Got a news story you want to share? Then get in touch at editorial@euroweeklynews.com.

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