The President of Kazakhstan has claimed that the recent violent demonstrations that have shaken the country were an "attempted coup d'état" by "armed fighters", adding that his forces would "never" fire on peaceful protesters, Euronews reports.
Both President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have said that Russian forces sent to the country will be withdrawn.
The Kazakh leader, who called for Russian help to quell the protests last week, said this would happen "soon". Putin said they would go "when their mission is complete".
The authorities in Kazakhstan said on Monday that nearly 8,000 people were detained by police during last week's violence, marking the worst unrest the former Soviet nation has faced since gaining independence 30 years ago.
Kazakhstan’s counterintelligence and anti-terrorism agency said the situation in the country has "stabilised and is under control".
Monday has been declared a day of mourning for dozens of victims of the unprecedentedly violent unrest. The country’s Health Ministry said on Sunday that 164 people, including three children, were killed.
The president's comments came during a video call with Putin and other allied heads of state.
"Groups of armed fighters who were waiting for their moment went into action. Their main objection has clearly come to light... it amounts to an attempted coup d'état," President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.
"Never have we used nor will we use military force against peaceful protesters," he added. On Friday, he authorised law enforcement to shoot to kill "terrorists" without warning.
According to the president, organised "terrorist" forces included "Islamists" as well as "criminals", "troublemakers" and "little hoodlums'. He also said that government forces had regained control.
