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The time has come to unite, to gather under one banner.
Let's go, Kazakhs!
Protests in Kazakhstan began on January 2nd
in the western city of Zhanaozen over a sharp rise in energy prices.
Within days, thousands of peaceful protesters in other parts of the country had joined in,
demanding economic and political reforms.
They were met by Kazakh authorities’ usual response:
arrests and detentions.
This video is about the violence and killings
that came next in Almaty, the largest city.
Kazakh authorities should launch an effective and independent investigation
into these events and ensure justice for what took place.
On January 5th, large numbers of people took to the streets in Almaty.
Human Rights Watch verified and analyzed over 80 videos of events in the city from January 4 to 6.
Together with witness interviews, they show disturbing cases of security forces
using excessive and lethal force.
On the night of January 4th, security forces used tear gas, stun grenades and rubber projectiles
to disperse peaceful protesters on Almaty’s Republic Square,
sparking a counter reaction from protesters and others who threw objects at security forces,
looted and burned several police cars.
The next day, many law enforcement officers were lightly armed, despite the previous night’s unrest.
They were quickly pursued by people who used violence and beat some of the security forces.
Later that day, groups of protesters and rioters,
marched to public buildings, including City Hall and the vacant presidential residence.
At the presidential residence some tried to enter from two directions.
None appear to pose an imminent threat to forces protecting the residence,
but those forces nonetheless opened fire with live ammunition,
apparently killing at least 10 people and wounding 19.
Bodies can be seen dropping to the ground.
As protests and rioting continued around the city, bodies began arriving at the city morgue.
They included that of a man shot in the head. It's unclear who shot at him.
The following day, January 6, security forces at Republic Square again used lethal force.
That evening, security forces fired at peaceful protesters like these.
Terrorists continue to damage state and private property and use weapons against civilians.
I have given the order to law enforcement and the army to shoot to kill without warning.
On January 16, the Kazakhstan government announced that 225 people across the country had been killed
since the unrest began, including 19 members of the security forces.
Thousands have been detained so far, and hundreds remain in detention.
Kazakh authorities should immediately ensure an effective, independent investigation
into the January events, focusing on the security forces’ response and hold all those responsible to account.