The “Orange” Level of the Terrorism Threat has been lifted in Kazakhstan

The high level of “orange” terrorism threat in Almaty will be lifted from 7 February due to the stabilization of the situation in the city. The City Operative Headquarters of for combatting terrorism reported, RIA Novosti informs.

“According to the decision of the head of the headquarters, the operation of the high “orange” level of the terrorism threat will be canceled from 00.00 on 7 February,” the press release issued by the headquarters reads.

It should be reminded that mass protests in Kazakhstan began in the first days of 2022 – residents of the cities of Janaoze and Aktau in the west of the country opposed the doubling of prices for liquefied gas. Later, the protests spread to other cities, including Alma-Ata, the old capital and the largest city of the republic: looting began there, militants attacked state institutions, took away weapons. In response, the authorities declared a state of emergency throughout the country until January 19 and launched a counter-terrorism operation. According to the UN, during the protests in Kazakhstan, about 1,000 people were injured. According to the country’s Prosecutor General’s Office, 4,578 people were injured as a result of the riots, 225 people died, including 19 security officials.

On the morning of 5 January, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev dismissed the Government and headed the Security Council. At the first meeting of the Security Council under his leadership, Tokayev described the situation in Kazakhstan as undermining the integrity of the state and said that he had asked for help from the CSTO “in overcoming the terrorist threat.” The CSTO Collective Security Council decided to send collective peacekeeping forces to Kazakhstan to normalize the situation in the country.

Later, on 7 January, Tokayev said that the terrorists, including those who had arrived from abroad, continued to resist, and promised to destroy those who did not lay down their arms. In addition, the president noted that all the demands of citizens, expressed in peaceful forms, were heard. The successful completion of the CSTO mission was announced on January 13. On January 19, the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan announced that there were no more foreign military personnel in the republic.