The riots in Kazakhstan, over 5,000 arrested

In total, 5,135 people have been arrested for questioning as part of over 100 separate investigations related to the riots, according to this state's interior ministry.

Kazakhstan, a energy-rich country with some 19 million people, has been shocked last week by riots that spread to various cities in the country and where dozens of people, including civilians and rule forces, were killed.

Fuel price increases sparked riots a week ago in Western provincial areas, but they arrived soon in larger cities, including the Almati economic centre, where riots broke out and police opened fire using bullets towards protesters.

The Harm of Turmoil

Kazakhstan's Interior Ministry, quoted by local media on Sunday, said initial estimates show that the damage caused to state and private property is around 175m euros.

More than 100 businesses and banks were attacked and robbed, and more than 400 vehicles were destroyed, Kazakhstan's Interior Ministry was quoted as saying.

“Today the situation has stabilised in all regions of the country,” said Interior Minister Erlan Turgumbyev, adding however that “operation against terrorism is continuing in an effort to restore order to the country”.

A relative calm seemed to be returning to Almay, with police sometimes shooting in the air to stop people approaching the city's central square, AFP reports.

Arrests for “

Despite the fact that the rule forces have brought the situation under control, the arrests of officials and former officials of this state have already begun on charges of “heavy treason”.

On Saturday, it was reported that Kazakh authorities arrested the former head of the National Security Committee with suspicion of treason.

Karim Massimov, who was dismissed this week by this important intelligence body, was arrested along with several other officials whose names were not made public.

The riots began in response to an increase in fuel prices, but were turned into a broad move against President Kassym-Jomart Tokyev's government, which is backed by Russia and was President Nursultan Nazarbayev, whose family is widely believed to have preserved the impact on Nur-Sultan.

US Against Russian Troops

At the request of Kazakhstan's president, a Russian-led military alliance was deployed in Kazakhstan, which sparked numerous reactions from the West, in particular spurred the US response.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States has some questions on Kazakhstan's request for assistance from the Russian-led security organisation.

Blinken, said Kazakh authorities have the capacity to face protests” in a way that would respect protest rights and at the same time establish order and law.

Therefore, it is not clear why they feel the need to ask for help from abroad, and we are trying to understand more about this”, Blinken said during a news conference on January 7th at the State Department.

Tens of people killed

Local media in Kazakhstan reported that so far at least 13 law enforcement officials died in the town of Almati and 353 people were injured, but the number of protesters killed in the riots is still unclear.

More than 1,000 people in various regions were injured as a result of the riots.

Of them, almost 400 were hospitalised, with 62 people in intensive care, the Kazakhstan Ministry of Health was quoted as saying.