Kazakh leader announces ‘coup d’etat’ over with Putin’s victory | Opposition Articles

President Tokayev says the task of ‘counter-terrorism’ will end soon after a series of deadly protests.

After more than 160 people died in the worst violence since Kazakhstan 30 years ago, its president on Monday described the protests as “an attempt to overthrow the government” as Russia claimed victory over neighboring Central Asia.

Speaking at an online conference of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said the system had been restored in Central Asia.

Several civilians and more than a dozen security personnel were killed last week as tensions over oil prices soared, with at least 8,000 people arrested.

“In the wake of the protests, unrest erupted … It became clear that the main purpose was to disrupt the rule of law and usurp power. We are talking about an attempt to overthrow the government, “Tokayev told CSTO, who sent troops to Kazakhstan when the crisis occurred.

The Kazakh president, who condemned the riots on foreign-trained “terrorists and terrorists”, said a major “counter-terrorism” operation would soon be completed, along with the deployment of the CSTO, which he said had 2,030 troops and 250 military personnel. hardware.

He also defended his decision to call Russian– led the military into the country and said doubts about the legitimacy of the project stemmed from a lack of information.

Speaking with Tokayev, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the former Soviet alliance had prevented “terrorists, terrorists, kidnappers and other terrorists” from undermining the strongholds of Kazakhstan and said his troops had been fired after his work expired. .

“Indeed, we understand that what is happening in Kazakhstan is not the first and far from the last attempt to disrupt the internal affairs of our countries from abroad,” he said. “CSTO’s actions have shown that we cannot allow things to go smoothly at home.”

He further added that CTSO would not allow “racial change” to take place, meaning a number of well-known reforms in the former Soviet Union two decades ago, including Ukraine and Georgia.

Days of chaos

Kazakh demonstrations began at a the price of oil before the onset of more anti-government violence, which was driven by dissatisfaction political influence and the former President, Nursultan Nazarbayev, 81.

Violent clashes between protesters and security forces took place in the country’s largest city of Almaty, killing more than 100 people.

“The biggest threat was posed to Almaty. The collapse of this city would have opened the way to a more populous south and the rest of the country,” Tokayev told CSTO.

“He then planned to seize the capital,” he added, referring to Nur-Sultan, whose first name was Nazarbayev.

Tokayev said Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic, under strict supervision, would provide evidence to other countries about what happened.

He has yet to provide any evidence to support the claim that the foreigners are the victims.

Robin Forestier-Walker of Al Jazeera, a Central Asian specialist from Georgia, Tbilisi, said: “Many questions are being asked, which is a clear indication that terrorists are working … Instead, most people think that perhaps this was an internal matter, as well as a struggle for supremacy over the ruling elite in Kazakhstan. “