Kazakhstan authorities raise death toll to 225 after violent clashes
- Authorities in Kazakhstan have significantly increased the death toll and the number of people injured in recent unrest
- Kazakhstan was gripped by unrest for a week after anti-government protests grew out of resentment over increased fuel prices
Violent unrest in Kazakhstan that began with peaceful protests in early January over energy prices has left 225 people dead, authorities said, in a dramatic increase on previous tolls.
The demonstrations spiralled into unprecedented clashes between security forces and anti-government protesters in the energy-rich ex-Soviet state, prompting President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to declare a state of emergency and call in help from a Russian-led military bloc.
“During the state of emergency, the bodies of 225 people were delivered to morgues, of which 19 were law enforcement officers and military personnel,” Serik Shalabayev, a representative of the state prosecutor, said at a briefing on Saturday.
Others were “armed bandits who participated in terrorist attacks”, Shalabayev added.
“Unfortunately, civilians have also become victims of acts of terrorism.”
Kazakhstan had previously acknowledged fewer than 50 fatalities – 26 “armed criminals” and 18 security officers in the conflict that exposed infighting at the very top of the government.