Tajik President Emomali Rahmon on January 10 sent a message of condolences to his Kazakh counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev over recent deadly unrest, according to the Tajik president’s official website.
In his message, Tajik leader extends deep condolences to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the people of Kazakhstan “in connection with numerous human casualties caused by recent tragic events in a number of regions of the country.”
“Tajik people mourn together with the brotherly people of Kazakhstan,” Emomali Rahmon said in his message, asking to convey his deep condolences to families and relatives of those who were killed in those events.
Triggered by a rise in fuel prices, the demonstrations started in Kazakhstan on January 2 and turned into huge riots as they spread across the country. According to some source, at least 164 people have died in Kazakhstan during the recent unrest
Last week troops from member nations of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) were sent to Kazakhstan to guard strategic facilities.
Kazakhstan authorities said on Sunday they had stabilized the situation across the country after the deadliest outbreak of violence in 30 years of independence. A state of emergency and a nationwide curfew remain in place.
Some media reports, citing Kazakhstan's presidential office, said nearly 8,000 people, including “a sustainable number of foreign nationals, were detained over the unrest for questioning.
The interior ministry, quoted Sunday by local media, put property damage at around 175 million euros (equivalent to US$199 million).
More than 100 businesses and banks were attacked and looted and more than 400 vehicles destroyed, the ministry said.