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Kazakhstan protests: UK government statement

The UK government has issued a statement on the protests in Kazakhstan.

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson said:

We are concerned by the violent clashes in Kazakhstan in recent days and are following developments closely. We call for calm and we condemn acts of violence and the destruction of property and buildings. We also call for a resumption of internet services and for the Kazakh authorities to respect their commitments to freedom of speech and expression.

Protests should be peaceful and law enforcement responses proportionate and in line with Kazakhstan’s international commitments. The UK has a close relationship with Kazakhstan and it is important that Kazakhstan’s sovereignty is respected. The UK encourages a peaceful resolution through engagement between the authorities and civil society.

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Updates to this page

Published 6 January 2022