The former head of Kazakhstan’s National Security Service was arrested on charges of treason after being expelled from the country’s riots.
The National Security Committee (KNB) said today, Saturday, that its former director, Karim Masimov, was arrested on Thursday after the start of a “preliminary investigation for high treason” that day.
And she added: “On the same day, Masimov, the former head of the KNB, suspected of committing this crime, was arrested and placed in a pre-trial detention center with others.”
The protests began, on Sunday, in the provinces after the rise in gas prices, before spreading to major cities, especially Almaty, the economic capital of Kazakhstan, where the demonstrations turned into riots against the regime.
Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev On Friday, security forces were authorized to “shoot to kill.” In order to end any rebellion and, with the support of Russia, negotiations with the protesters were excluded. A group of troops from Russia and other Moscow allies arrived in Kazakhstan on Thursday to support the government.
Despite the statement by Deputy Director of the Presidential Administration Dorin Abayev, Friday, that “order has been restored throughout the country and the situation has stabilized”, there is still an outbreak of resistance from the demonstrators, who are rooted in several places, according to the local. Click.
The United States authorizes Almaty consular employees to leave the country
The US administration has allowed non-essential employees and family members of all employees to leave the Almaty advisor, Kazakhstan, due to insecurity, according to a statement from the US State Department.
According to the statement, given the situation in Kazakhstan, “demonstrations, protests and strikes can occur quickly and without prior notice”, which could quickly turn violent.
The protests, according to the same statement, cited by Efe, could cause disruption to traffic, transportation and telecommunications and “seriously affect the ability of the US Embassy to provide necessary consular services”, that is, “assistance to US citizens departing from Kazakhstan”.
The White House on Friday expressed concern about Tokayev’s “shoot to kill” order against protesters in the country, and warned that it would remain on alert for any human rights abuses.
Foreign Minister Anthony Blinken also referred to the crisis in Kazakhstan during a press meeting on Friday, calling for the crisis to be resolved while respecting human rights.
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