Police have said that during the riots, which coincided with Kazakhstan’s
Independence Day, they only fired their rifles when they feared for their
lives and even then they only shot into the air.
Internet videos have emerged, however, which appear to show police firing
directly at protesters. The Kazakh authorities have said they are
investigating these videos.
Since the violence, Mr Nazarbayev has sacked senior officials and vocally said
that he believes stability is central to Kazakhstan’s success in turning
itself into a major energy supplier.