Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili says Georgian citizens staying in Kazakhstan will be brought home in the coming days.
According to Garibashvili, the Georgian government is “very closely” monitoring the developments in Kazakhstan.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic events that took place in Kazakhstan, where dozens of people died. We hope that all measures will be taken as soon as possible to de-escalate the situation, achieve security and stability. We wish the country to be able to overcome the consequences soon and we wish our brother Kazakhs to continue the movement towards further development.
“Regarding the Georgian citizens in Kazakhstan, the Georgian diplomatic mission has been in touch with them and is providing relevant assistance on the spot. Some have already returned to Georgia, while those who remain on the ground are in contact with the embassy, which is providing assistance if necessary. They will return to Georgia in the coming days,” Garibashvili said.
The Embassy of Georgia in Kazakhstan is operating as usual and the hotline – +7 (717) 224-32-58 has been launched. However, due to internet and telephone interruptions in Kazakhstan, if citizens are unable to connect to the hotline, they can send messages to the following e-mail address: astana.emb@mfa.gov.ge.
Protests in Kazakhstan began with a demand to return fuel prices to the old mark but soon escalated into anti-government protests. The government eventually resigned, however, the demonstrations continued.
Authorities declared a state of emergency in the country on January 5 and launched a “counterterrorism operation” against protesters.
At the request of the President, members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), including Russia, entered Kazakhstan. The CSTO insists it will not take part in the dispersal of the demonstrations.
Banks stopped working in the country. A state of emergency and curfew has been declared. The exact number is unknown, however, the government is talking about dozens of victims.
In Kazakhstan, the Internet has been cut off and it is difficult for citizens to connect with each other by telephone.
Scarce information is spread from the country. One of the main sources is the social network Telegram, where citizens also disseminate information, including reports that food resources are limited in Almaty and other cities.
By Ana Dumbadze
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