The police have recognized this Thursday to have killed "tens" demonstrators when they were trying to break into administrative buildings in Kazakhstan, while an alliance led by Russia sent troops to help stabilize this country from Central Asia.
In addition, more than a thousand people have been injured in the riots of the last days, according to the Ministry of Health revealed.
"Last night, extremist forces tried to break into administrative buildings, in the town department of the city of Almaty, as well as in local departments and police stations," said Police spokesman Saltanat Azirbek, cited by the Interfax-Kazakhstan agencies, TASS and RIA Novosti.
"Dozens of attackers were eliminated," he added, specifying that identifications are being carried out.
Considered for a long time as the most stable of the ancient Soviet republics of Central Asia, Kazakhstan faces its worst crisis in decades after several days of protests for the increase in fuel prices.
The growing altercations suppose a challenge to the authoritarian regime of President Kassym Jomart Tokayev and have generated international dismay, especially for his ally Moscow.
Before this, Russia and its allies have announced the submission of the first contingent of peacekeeping forces to help stabilize the situation in the country.
"A collective peacekeeping force of the Collective Safety Treaty Organization (OTSC) has been sent to Kazakhstan for a limited period to stabilize and normalize the situation," has reported this military alliance in a statement released in Telegram by the Russian diplomacy spokesman, Maria Zakarova.
The force includes military from Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, which integrate the OTSC together with Kazakhstan.
The statement has not specified how many soldiers would be sent, but points out that Russian contingent includes members of the Air Force.
The main objective of the soldiers "will be the protection of state and military facilities of importance and assist the forces of law and order (...) in the stabilization of the situation," the statement has added.
According to Azirbek, an "anti-terrorist" operation is being carried out in one of the neighborhoods of Almaty, the country's economic capital, where the riots were more violent.
In the images spread by means and social networks you can see trades plundered and several administrative buildings attacked and burned at Almaty. Automatic weapons shots were heard.
President Tokayev has said that "terrorists" were taking buildings and infrastructures and faced the security forces with small arms.
According to the Ministry of the Interior Kazakh, cited by the local press, at least eight members of the security forces have died and 317 were injured.
For its part, the Ministry of Health has reported on television of more than a thousand wounded, of which 62 were in intensive care.
The protests have been extended this week in the country of 19 million inhabitants by the increases in the price of liquefied gas (LPG), used as a vehicle fuel in the west of the country.
Thousands of people took the streets of Almaty and the Western Province of Mangystau claiming that the increase in prices is unfair given the large energy reserves of Kazakhstan, an exporter of oil and gas.
On Wednesday, Tokayev tried to contain the discomfort ceasing the government, headed by Prime Minister Askar Mamin, but the protests continued.
The Government also announced that the State of Emergency in the areas most affected by the protests would be extended to the whole country and will remain in force until January 19.
The measure imposes a night's nocturnal touch, restricts the mobilization and prohibits multitudinous concentrations.
Date Of Update: 06 January 2022, 08:00
