The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Yerzhan Kazykhanov described in an interview to RIA News how the situation in Zhanaozen has developed after the December 16 riots.

- How do you assess the current situation in Zhanaozen? Did the situation manage to stabilize?

- As a whole, according to the information of the Prosecutor General of Kazakhstan, the situation in the city of Zhanaozen gradually normalized. The city’s commandant office in conjunction with the law enforcement authorities is taking all the necessary steps to restore law and social order in the region.
From the 18th to 19th of  December – there have been no reports on any planned or committed wrongdoings, moreover, law enforcement forces have not detected any violations of the curfew. The total number of detainees equal to 130 people. The socio-economic problems in the region are being addressed by the governmental commission under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Umirzak Shukeyev, while the Interior Minister Kalmuhanbet Kasimov is heading an investigation group to establish all the circumstances that led to the riots in Zhanaozen.  Unfortunately, the death toll has risen to 14.  11 personalities have been identified. The identities of three more dead men are being established.

- According to our information, the residents of Aktau signed a collective letter expressing their disagreement of the events that occurred in the Mangistau region, and have requested a curfew. Is it possible to spread these restrictive measures to other regions?

- Yes, there has been some unrest detected in Aktau. People did gather in the main square on December 18th. However, according to recent data, meetings or gatherings have not been held as of late. Furthermore, there have been no conflicts with law enforcement authorities or any radical demands made. I would like to emphasize that the actions such as the ones that occurred in Zhanaozen, are alien and unacceptable in our society. They are exclusively local in nature. Those who started the riots and combats on the streets and squares of Zhanaozen, have plainly violated the law. We hope that investigations will result in the exposure of the instigators and organizers as well as sources of financing of these crimes, whose victims were ordinary civilians, law enforcement and governmental officials. Not only the residents of Aktau condemn these criminal acts, but so do most of the people of Kazakhstan. The leading political parties in the country also condemned the events in Zhanaozen. For Kazakhstan, regardless of nationality, religion, political affiliation, regardless of political opinion, the most important factor at the moment and in the future – is peace, stability and national unity, on which the dynamic development of Kazakhstan is based upon.

- On what grounds have Russian journalists been detained? Will the mass media be given a chance to cover the situation in an objective manner?

- As you are aware, the decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan starting at 18.00 hrs on December 17, 2011 up to January 5, 2012 declared an emergency state within the town of Zhanaozen. In this regard, during period of state of emergency, temporary restrictions on freedom of movement, use of radio equipment, television, audio and video recording equipment, checks on identity documents of individuals, searches of premises of such items and vehicles were imposed. Journalists were given clarification on the provisions of the decree. Moreover, after establishing the identities of these Russian journalists and after holding talks, they were provided with security and transportation for the smooth performance of their journalistic duties. They are currently working without any obstacles. In general, we urge all media representatives, regardless of their country of origin, to understand the administrative measures undertaken by the police, who must, above all, ensure the safety of residents and journalists.

- Will international observers be allowed in the region? How will cooperation with the OSCE and other international organizations who expressed concern about what has been going on in the region be established?

- Kazakhstan has always successfully cooperated with the OSCE and its institutions. The OSCE Centre in Astana is in full operation. The Center and the Permanent Mission of Kazakhstan to the OSCE, regularly reports to delegations of the OSCE in Vienna on all developments occurring in Kazakhstan. It is no different this time, the OSCE participating States are receiving full information on the events in Zhanaozen based on reliable data that are being provided by official authorities in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan will closely work with the OSCE in accordance with the provisions of the Astana anniversary declaration adopted at the OSCE summit. We are a democratic transparent society. The Kazakh authorities are very interested in the transparency of the investigative process and in establishing who were the organizers, instigators as well as the sources of funding behind these riots. It is in the interest of the entire Kazakh society to prevent such crimes from happening again. I think that in the nearest future, we will be able to provide more detailed information on the possibility of involving international experts. I would like to highlight that based on international experience, law enforcement agencies in Kazakhstan are considering the possibility of inviting the representatives of law enforcement agencies of other countries, who have a vast experience in objective and professional investigation processes on such massive wrongdoings. As an example, it should be reminded that after the events that occurred in London this year, the British government invited Bill Bratton, the former head of the New York Police to act as a special consultant on security matters.

- How are the actions of the police justified?  How would you explain the death toll and the large number of people wounded?

- For any state, a fundamental objective is to ensure the safety of its citizens. As the head of our state pointed out, "in many ways, these events are the results of global recession caused by the global financial and economic crisis. The dispute of the oil workers should not be confused with acts of banditry elements who wanted to exploit the situation for their criminal ends." The security forces that were placed within the framework of the state of emergency were there to protect the local communities from criminals who looted and set fire to office buildings, cars and public places. Weaponry is used in the most exceptional of cases and applies exclusively to those who commit above mentioned crimes. If you recall certain events and pogroms, not only in Kazakhstan but also in other countries, strong decisiveness and effective law enforcement of the government has always attracted criticism. It is natural for any democratic and open society.

- Is there a danger that the dissent in the Mangistau region may spread, since on Sunday there were rallies held in support of the Zhanaozen strikers in other regions of Kazakhstan?

- It was merely a local conflict. The situation throughout the country is stable. Kazakh society cherishes stability and economic development. The reasons for the spread of similar actions in other cities do not exist.

- Some experts claim that this a the scenery from the "color revolution".  Is there a danger of this sort of event occurring in Kazakhstan?

- I believe that such parallels are absolutely irrelevant.