Kazakh Ambassador to KSA, Permanent Representative to the OIC says Constitutional legitimacy is being restored across Kazakhstan

Kazakh Ambassador to KSA, Permanent Representative to the OIC says Constitutional legitimacy is being restored across Kazakhstan

JEDDAH (UNA-OIC) – The Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the OIC, H.E. Mr. Berik Aryn, affirmed that Constitutional legitimacy is being restored across Kazakhstan, indicating that “the police, the National Guard and the Army are carrying out large-scale and well-coordinated efforts to restore law and order in accordance with the Constitution”.

He said that The Kazakh government hopes that the measures it is undertaking to address the lawlessness in the country “will help stabilize the situation and create conditions for the resumption of a broad constructive dialogue between state bodies and the protesters”.

He also stressed that his country “will continue to ensure the rights and interests of all representatives of our multi-ethnic and multi-religious people, as well as the safety of foreign citizens in the country, including the diplomatic corps and journalists”. 

In an interview with the Union of OIC News Agencies (UNA), the Kazakh ambassador revealed the circumstances of the events that his country witnessed and is still witnessing, and the measures taken by the Kazakh leadership to address the situation.

 
What was the reason of the protests in Kazakhstan?

 

In 2021, the world market saw a significant increase in natural gas prices. In this regard, the increase in its export from Kazakhstan by commercial producers has worsened its deficit in the domestic market, observed for a number of years due to the very low price of this product for local consumers.

To correct the existing imbalances and create conditions for the formation of a market price for gas based on supply and demand in the domestic market, a new system of wholesale gas sales through electronic trading platforms was introduced in Kazakhstan on January 1, 2022. The new market mechanism caused a simultaneous, almost two-fold increase in the retail price of liquefied petroleum gas – from 50-60 to 110-120 tenge per liter.

Due to the fact that the majority of road transport in Mangystau region uses this type of fuel, many residents of the region considered unacceptable the impact on their household budgets, as a result of which some residents of Zhanaozen city attended unauthorized protest actions on January 2, 2022.

In view of the wide resonance in Kazakh media and social networks, the President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev publicly responded and instructed the Government “to consider the situation from the point of view of economic feasibility and in the legal field”.

As a result of negotiations with representatives of protesting citizens in the afternoon of January 4, 2022, a decision was announced ensuring the price reduction to 50 tenge per 1 liter of gas. In addition, the protesters’ demand for the release of persons detained for violations of law and order in the previous two days was met.

 
Why was there an escalation of the situation despite the fulfilment of the protesters’ requirements?

 

Unfortunately, in the cities of Aktau and Almaty on January 4, 2022, protest actions turned into mass riots, which led to attacks on civil servants and law enforcement officers, as well as on the buildings of local executive bodies. At the same time, the actions of the law enforcement forces were extremely restrained, no firearms were used, which allowed human casualties and serious injuries to be avoided.

On January 5, 2022, peaceful demonstrations were exploited by well-organized terrorist and criminal elements to turn them into armed attacks against our Republic.

There were organized attacks on administrative and military facilities, the seizure of the airport, and the attempted capture of foreign passenger and cargo planes in Almaty. This indicates a high level of training and coordination of the attackers’ actions.

Chairman of the Security Council of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, called the forces that attacked Kazakhstan “real terrorists” and noted the need to conduct a counter-terrorist operation in order to repel them.

Against the background of mass riots, President of Kazakhstan announced a state of emergency from January 5 to January 19, 2022 throughout the country, and a curfew is imposed from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Kazakhstan also introduced a “critical red” level of terrorist danger. An anti-terrorist operation regime has been established in all regions of the country.

The tragedy of Almaty and other cities of Kazakhstan have shown that it is precisely “non-compliance with laws, permissiveness, and anarchy that lead to human rights violations”.

The attackers must be eliminated, and this will be done soon. Law enforcement forces are morally and technically ready to perform this task.

The Kazakh government hopes that these measures will help stabilize the situation and create conditions for the resumption of a broad constructive dialogue between state bodies and the protesters.

 
What casualties and losses have been caused by the illegal actions of these groups in Kazakhstan?

 

Hundreds of people who ensure law and order and public health — law enforcement officers, doctors, as well as other residents of Almaty, including the elderly – were injured. According to the latest data, 164 people, including law enforcement officers and civilians, were killed by extremists and terrorists. More than 1,300 police officers, military personnel, and 1,000 civilians were injured and hospitalized.

The internal affairs bodies detained more than 6 thousand people, 26 armed criminals were killed and 26 were wounded across the country. 70 terrorist and 30 looters were detained in Almaty during a special operation.

According to the National Chamber of Enterpreneurs «Atameken», the riots caused damage to business by more than 212 million US dollars.

Unfortunately, as a result of the clashes, January 10, 2022 is declared a day of National Mourning in Kazakhstan.

 
We know that the President of Kazakhstan requested the assistance of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). What is the role of the CSTO and the number of the peacekeepers? How will they help the Government and people of Kazakhstan?  

 

Relying on the Collective Security Treaty, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed heads of state of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) with a request for military assistance in overcoming the terrorist threat that undermines the integrity of the state and attacks the citizens of Kazakhstan who have turned to the Head of State for urgent assistance in their protection.

The legal framework for deployment of collective peacekeeping forces is based on Articles 2 and 4 of the «Treaty on Collective Security», the «Agreement on Peacekeeping Activities», and military assistance requested by Kazakhstan. The peacekeeping troops are not involved in the elimination of militant groups and terrorists. Their main tasks are protection of strategic sites and administrative buildings.

According to the CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas, the total number of the peacekeeping contingent sent by the CSTO is 2500 people. The peacekeepers arrived from Russia, Armenia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Belarus.

Peacekeeping troops comprising of multinational forces of the CSTO member states were deployed and will remain for a short period of time until the stabilization of the situation in Kazakhstan.

 
What kind of measures is taken by the Government of Kazakhstan to ease the situation?

 

As the unrest in Kazakhstan starts to ease, the country will engage in busy reforms in the socioeconomic and political realms to address the concerns of the people while investigating the criminal acts and powers behind the recent incidents.

On January 5, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced the future plan of “political transformation” of Kazakhstan. The main task today, according to the President, is the defence of our country and our citizens. Kazakhstan will continue to ensure the rights and interests of all representatives of our multi-ethnic and multi-religious people, as well as the safety of foreign citizens in the country, including the diplomatic corps and journalists. Foreign investments and businesses of foreign companies will be protected as well.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted that on January 11, he will announce specific decisions, including those of a socio-economic nature aimed at preventing such tragedies in the future. 

The Kazakh Government continues the anti-terrorist operation in the country. Our President has mentioned that the militants have not laid down their weapons, and they continue to commit crimes or prepare for them. In this regard, the fight against them must be brought to an end.

Currently, the police, the National Guard and the Army are carrying out large-scale and well-coordinated efforts to restore law and order in accordance with the Constitution. The implementation of the state of emergency is ensuring results. Constitutional legitimacy is being restored across the country.

The President thanked the people of Kazakhstan who showed civic responsibility and those who defended peace and public order in the country. He highlighted that all the demands expressed in peaceful terms were heard. As a result of the dialogue, a compromise was reached, and solutions to acute socio-economic problems have been formed.

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