BREAKING NEWS: Statement by Prosecutor General of Kazakhstan A. Daulbayev
Statement by Prosecutor General of Kazakhstan A. Daulbayev
On December 16, 2011, at 11.30 a.m. mass riots took place in the town of Zhanaozen in Mangystau region as a result of criminal actions of a group of persons during holiday events.
The civilians, gathered at the central square for celebration of the 20th anniversary of independence, were attacked by a group of hooligans.
Disturbing public peace, the offenders attacked the police, overturned a New Year tree, destroyed yurts and a stage placed on occasion of the holiday and set on fire a police bus. The group of hooligan persons beat the civilians and smashed cars parked near the square.
Against law enforcement concerns to stop illegal actions the hooligan group attacked the police officers in order to seize weapons. In this case they used firearms and cold steel.
As a result of the mass riots a building of the akimat (administration) of the town, hotels, an administrative building of OzenMunayGas Company were burnt. A property of natural and legal persons was destroyed: cars were burned, ATMs were looted.
According to preliminary data, as a result of the mass riots 10 people died, some including police officers were injured.
Criminal cases were opened on the facts of the mass disorders.
On the instruction of the Head of State an operational-investigations group headed by Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan K.Kassymov left for Zhanaozen town for taking all necessary measures on suppression of criminal activities, identification and punishment of the organizers of the disorders, restoration of the public security in the town.
The Prosecutor General's Office warns the organizers of the riots of their legal liability and calls for ending the illegal actions.