Kazakh president: Forces can shoot to kill to quell unrest
MOSCOW (AP) — Kazakhstan's president authorized security forces on Friday to shoot to kill those participating in unrest whom he called "terrorists," opening the door for a dramatic escalation in a crackdown on anti-government protests that have turned violent.
The Central Asian nation this week experienced its worst street protests since gaining independence from the Soviet Union three decades ago, and dozens have been killed in the unrest. The demonstrations began over a near-doubling of prices for a type of vehicle fuel but quickly spread across the country, reflecting wider discontent with authoritarian rule.
In a televised address to the nation, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev used harsh rhetoric, referring to those involved in the turmoil as "terrorists," "bandits" and "militants" — though it is unclear how peaceful protests gathered steam and then descended into violence.
https://krcgtv.com/news/nation-world/kazakh-president-forces-can-shoot-to-kill-to-quell-unrest
