Erdogan has spoken with Kazakh President Kassym Jomart Tokayev.
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, ANKARA — President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that Turkey was in solidarity with Kazakhstan when speaking with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. He held talks with the leaders of the members of the Organization of Turkish States on Thursday (6/1) evening.
Erdogan also spoke with his allies from Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and from Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
According to a statement by the Presidential Communications Directorate, Erdogan said he was following developments in Kazakhstan and expressed his condolences for the victims caused by the unrest. He also underlined that Turkey believes Kazakhstan will solve the current problem and the Turkish government is ready to provide any assistance if needed.
Turkish Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim Kaln also touched on the unrest in Kazakhstan. “We deeply regret the incidents and deaths in Kazakhstan. The peace and stability of Kazakhstan is our biggest priority. Turkey will always continue to be on the side of Kazakhstan,” he said.
Dozens of protesters and at least a dozen security personnel were killed in clashes in Kazakhstan’s largest city and the former capital of Almaty. Several armored personnel carriers and dozens of soldiers on foot entered the main square of Kazakhstan’s largest city on Thursday morning.
The protests were initially sparked by a fuel price hike that killed 12 police and national guard troops on Tuesday and Wednesday (4-5/1/2022). This condition prompted Tokayev to ask for help from the Russian-led security alliance who offered to send peacekeepers.
The Kazakh armed forces have been called in to restore order and disperse a riot that appears to have developed into a general uprising. “Terrorist gangs were involved in fights with paratroopers in Almaty,” Tokayev said, noting that this was not a threat, but undermined the integrity of the country.
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