Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced on national television this morning, “I have given order to open fire and kill terrorists without warning.” He said that most of the country is stabilized, including Almaty and Aktobe, but not all perpetrators have laid down their weapons. He claimed there was a well-designed plan, targeting key military, administrative, and social facilities in almost all of the regions. In Kazakhstan’s largest city, Almaty, he said that there were propaganda experts spreading fake news, manipulating the population. Kazakhstan is facing “armed and well-trained militants, both local and foreign.” They are “bandits and terrorists.” He ridiculed the notion of negotiations. “It’s nonsense, What kind of talks can one have with criminals and murderers?”
Tokayev thanked the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) for responding to his request for a peacekeeping force, but reserved “special thanks” to Putin. “He responded to my request very fast and, more importantly, in a warm and friendly manner.” The CSTO secretariat, according to RIA Novosti, said that the total force would amount to about 2,500; and that if they were attacked by “armed gangs,” they have the right to use weapons.
