The General Prosecutor’s Office of Kazakhstan spoke about the use of weapons by the security forces during the riots.

The Prosecutor General of Kazakhstan, Berik Asylov, said that during the January 2022 riots, the security forces began to use firearms even before the President of the country, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, made a corresponding statement on television, while in fact there are legal norms that allow the use of military weapons to repel attacks, with a threat to the life and health of people.

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On January 7, 2022, Tokayev, speaking to the people on television, said that in connection with the situation in the country, he ordered law enforcement agencies and the army to open fire to kill without warning on criminals who refuse to lay down their arms.