As the protests quickly turned violent, the police intervened against the protesters, and hundreds of police and citizens were injured. Felicity (Saadet) Party Chairman Temel Karamollaoğlu stated that they are following the events in Kazakhstan with concern and called for Turkey to take action against the events.
The protests that started in Kazakhstan in the past few days quickly spread to the whole country and quickly turned into violence. After the protests turned violent, the police intervened. Hundreds of police and citizens were injured by the intervention. Saadet Party Chairman Temel Karamollaoğlu called for the Organization of Turkish States (OTS) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to intervene in the situation with his social media account.
Stating that they follow the events in Kazakhstan with concern in his sharing, Karamollaoğlu noted that Kazakhstan is trying to be turned into a new conflict area by global powers.
“In the country, which has the very important underground resources, both the people should get the share they deserve from the welfare and Kazakhstan, which celebrates the 30th anniversary of its independence, should achieve peace and tranquility as soon as possible,” Karamollaoğlu said.
“THE ORGANIZATION OF TURKISH STATES AND THE ORGANIZATION OF ISLAMIC COOPERATION SHOULD INVOLVE”
Emphasizing the need to intervene in the events in Kazakhstan before the global powers get stronger, “OTS and the OIC should be involved in the situation as soon as Kazakhstan turns into the backyard of global powers. The brotherly Kazakh people and the State of Kazakhstan should carry out this process as patient as possible, with care and deliberateness, and the emergence of other problems whose results are difficult to overcome should not be allowed. Turkey should conduct rapid diplomacy in order to overcome the negative process; It should prevent processes that will harm the unity, solidarity and independence of Kazakhstan,” Karamollaoğlu added.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IN KAZAKHSTAN
Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of Kazakhstan, Dauren Abayev stated that the protests in the country started peacefully, and then passed under the control of provocateurs. While OIC called for calm and an end to violence, soldiers were sent to Kazakhstan in line with the decision taken by the Collective Security Council (CSC).
Abayev stated that the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) peacekeeping force that came to the country will not participate in armed conflicts and said that these units will act for protection. Noting that order has been restored in all regions of Kazakhstan, Abayev said, "Right now, the search and finding of the remaining rebels continues. Many militants were neutralized and captured. These people are being identified and their links with extremist organizations are being studied."
Noting that the protests in the country were peaceful at first, Abayev stated that ‘armed rebels and terrorists’ led the crowd formed by the demonstrators.
“The peaceful voices of the protesters were drowned out by the provocateurs' calls for violence,” Abayev added.
Reminding that shops were looted during the protests, Abayev said, “A group of rebels was engaged in looting. The second group of terrorists raided gun shops. The invaders acted professionally. Some have attempted to broadcast live on television. Barricades were set up in all occupied places. Snipers with special weapons from terrorists also took action."
OIC CALLS FOR ‘END OF VIOLENCE’
In the meantime, OIC stated that the developments in Kazakhstan were followed with great concern and called for calm and an end to violence. In a written statement from the OIC, “the OIC General Secretariat follows the developments in the Republic of Kazakhstan with great concern and expresses its regret at the violence that caused many deaths and damage to public property,” the statement said.
The protests, which started on January 2, on the grounds of the price hikes in LPG in the west of Kazakhstan and the worsening of the socioeconomic situation, spread to other parts of the country.
Clashes broke out between security forces and protesters during the demonstrations that turned into street events. Security forces intervened against the protesters, who set fire to police vehicles and military vehicles and entered government buildings. President of Kazakhstan Kassym Jomart Tokayev accepted the resignation of the government, which he blames for the protests. As the protests spread, a state of emergency was declared. Due to the current situation in the country, Tokayev sought help from the country leaders of the CSTO, of which they are in as members. In line with the decision taken by the CSTO Collective Security Council, soldiers were sent to Kazakhstan.
So far, 26 protesters have lost their lives in the events that broke out during the anti-government demonstrations. It is stated that more than 3,000 people were detained in the incidents.