Nur-Sultan, Jan 7,2022: Kazakhstan imposed a countrywide “critical red” terror alert on Friday, a Kazakh news portal said on its Telegram channel after its security forces managed to restore control over all city administrations and regional police departments.
Under the anti-terror norms, special services will be allowed to carry out searches of civilians and vehicles at will.
It can also restrict or direct their movement as well as gain access to information transmitted through various telecommunication channels.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will address the nation later in the day.
The alert level entails a full mobilisation of all forces and special services, according to the Kazakh Tengrinews.kz news portal.
So far 3,000 people have been detained and 26 armed individuals killed in clashes with the security forces, after mass protests in the country began earlier in the week as residents of Zhanaozen and Aktau opposed a two-fold increase in prices for liquefied petroleum gas.
The protests spread to other cities resulting in violent clashes with the police leading to loot and vandalism, the Khabar 24 state-run broadcaster said.
The Interior Ministry said 18 more gunmen have been injured, the Khabar 24 state-run broadcaster reported.
Tokayev has declared a state of emergency until January 19 and invited the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) peacekeeping forces to help bring the situation under control.
Peacekeeping contingents from Russia and Belarus have arrived in the country to protect strategic infrastructure facilities.
According to CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas, there are 2,500 peacekeeping troops on the ground and the number may be increased.
Kazakh Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi spoke with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken over the phone and informed him about the counter-terrorist operation underway, a statement issued said.
Order has been mostly restored in all regions of Kazakhstan, with regional authorities controlling the situation, President Tokayev said.
He held a meeting of the counterterrorist committee, according to the Kazakh presidential press service.
