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Kazakhstan’s top prosecutor reveals number of those arrested over January insurrection

According to Berik Asylov, a total of 3,770 criminal cases were investigated after the riots

NUR-SULTAN, March 14. /TASS/. Kazakhstan’s law enforcement has arrested 766 people after January’s mass unrest, Kazakh Prosecutor General Berik Asylov said on Monday, speaking in the nation’s Majilis (lower house of parliament).

"The total number of those arrested by all institutions comes to 766 <...>. Most of them are young people under 30, unemployed and without higher education. Among them are 19 followers of destructive religious movements, 27 activists of banned extremist organizations, 24 members of organized criminal gangs and 113 people with convictions for murder, theft, and robbery," he specified.

According to the prosecutor general, a total of 3,770 criminal cases were investigated after the riots.

"It was established that on January 5, the chiefs of two police departments and three departments of the National Security Committee in Almaty, the Almatinsky, Zhambyl and Kyzylorda regions left their buildings, taking weapons with them. Seven criminal cases were opened over these incidents," Asylov said.

Protests erupted in several Kazakh cities on January 2, escalating into mass riots involving attacks on police and military personnel. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev condemned the violent unrest as a government coup attempt and requested assistance from the CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization). The situation was stabilized by January 7 and the state of emergency lifted on January 19. The authorities say the failed insurrection left 230 dead and more than 4,500 injured.