As of January 6, mass clashes continued in the cities of Kazakhstan. Last night, military entered the city of Almaty.
In early hours on January 6, the Kazakh military on armored vehicles took the armed rioters in a ring in the center of Almaty. A shootout was reported on the square.
The police in Almaty reported that rioters attempted to storm the building of the department at night. As a result, dozens of attackers were eliminated.
According to the official reports, 12 law enforcement officers were killed during clashes in Almaty. 353 employees were injured.
At night, a body of a unidentified decapitated man was found in the city.
The exact number of victims among the civilians is yet to be revealed. According to the footage shared online, a big number of citizens were killed during the clashes by armed protesters as well as by members of local gangs.
Protesters in Almaty are now surrounding hospitals. They do not let patients and medical staff to enter. Clashes with the police broke out near the 7th city hospital.
The work of all financial institutions in Almaty, namely second-tier banks and the Kazakh Stock Exchange, has been suspended. The decision was made following the failure of the Internet, as well as in order to ensure the safety of employees.
Local sources cited witnesses claiming that there are no ”usual citizens” on the streets in Almaty, people are staying at home. There is allegedly a crowd of young looters on the streets, mainly migrants, who are coordinated by ”armed people in black SUVs in camouflage.”
According to the CSTO’s official comment, the situation in Kazakhstan is considered as an invasion of gangs trained from abroad.
In order to contain the armed crowds, the advanced units of the CSTO contingent are already deployed in Kazakhstan.
The Collective Security Council of the CSTO decided to send the Collective peacekeeping forces to the Republic of Kazakhstan, following an appeal from President Tokayev. The CSTO peacekeeping forces are deployed for a limited period of time in order to stabilize and normalize the situation in the country.
Tajikistan claimed its readiness to take part in the CSTO operation to assist Kazakhstan.
Footage of the departure of Russian peacekeepers to Kazakhstan was released by Zvezda TV.
Russian An-124 and IL-76TD were spotted flying to Kazakhstan on January 6. More aircraft at Russian Chkalovsky airfield are loaded and are ready for the departure. In total, at least 10 IL-76 and 3 AN-124 are reportedly involved in the CSTO operation.
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