Mass protests continue in Kazakhstan for the fifth day. Political demands, such as the resignation of former President Nursultan Nazarbayev and free elections, have been added to purely economic ones like price reduction for socially significant goods.
Against the background of the inability to cope with protesters and crowds of looters that appeared on the streets of cities, the country's authorities appealed to the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states to introduce a "peacekeeping" contingent in Kazakhstan. The Moscow-led CSTO says Russian paratroopers have been deployed to Kazakhstan at the request of the government.
Anti-terrorist special operation was carried out in some cities, which killed up to a hundred civilians. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev blamed foreign-trained "terrorist" gangs but offered no evidence of an international link to the disorder in Kazahstan.
Around midnight (Kyiv time), Telegram channels reported the departure to Kazakhstan of representatives of the 45th Regiment of the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation, the 98th Airborne Division, and 103 Airborne Divisions from Belarus.
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The media also report, referring to the statement of the head of the State Duma Committee Leonid Kalashnikov, that CSTO peacekeepers will be able to stay in Kazakhstan until the situation stabilizes. According to him, they will be used mainly "to ensure the security of facilities and infrastructure".
The Tengrinews Telegram channel quotes the Russian media saying the CSTO peacekeeping force will protect military infrastructure facilities and others, and the looters will be "disassembled with by local security forces".
It is noted that CSTO forces will be in Kazakhstan until the country's authorities ask to withdraw them.
Sputnik Kazakhstan informs that at 6.16 (Kyiv time) there was a shootout between protesters and military on the Republic Square in Almaty. Police spokesman Saltanat Azirbek said dozens of “extremists” were “eliminated” overnight in the city, when they “tried to assault administrative buildings, the Almaty city police department, as well as local police commissariats."
State television said that 12 police officers died overnight in clashes with protesters in Almaty and that 353 more were injured.
The vlastkz channel reports that there are no protesters or military personnel in the center of Almaty, near Abylai Khan Street. Some ATMs have been blown up, many institutions and shops have been looted, including TSUM and the Korgan gun store, new phone boxes are abandoned. There is a strong smell of burning in the city.
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Also, the news portal Tengrinews, referring to a statement in the National Bank, reports that all financial organizations in Kazakhstan have temporarily suspended their activities amid the counter-terrorism operation in Almaty and temporary problems with the Internet.
It is reported that most facilities and public transport in the capital operate as usual.
According to Іnterfax.ru, all administrative buildings of Nur-Sultan are taken under enhanced protection. According to the police, the situation in the city is under control.Despite this, a number of restrictions are imposed, and the protection of public order has been strengthened.
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Mash channel, citing the words of a citizen from Moscow stuck in Almaty due to the anti-terrorist operation, reported that the plane had been hijacked. Passengers were promised that they would be taken back to the city under escort. The citizen was locked on the plane with his girlfriend since 6 p.m.
The media write that the two soldiers died during the liberation of Almaty airport from protesters.