26 protesters and 18 police officers killed in Kazakhstan, constitutional order established

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated that constitutional order has been largely established in the Central Asian country affected by unrest.

The Kazakh Ministry of Internal Affairs stated in a separate announcement that 26 "armed criminals" were liquidated and more than 3,000 were detained, while 18 police officers and National Guard members were killed since the beginning of the protests that broke out this week, Reuters reports.

Tokayev will address the nation later today, Kazakh state television announced.

Meanwhile, according to the authorities, a plane with soldiers from the bloc of six former Soviet countries, led by Russia, has arrived in Kazakhstan. They claim these are peacekeeping forces.

Kazakh President Tokayev requested their arrival. The protests began on Sunday in Almaty due to dissatisfaction with the increase in fuel prices, and then spread to several cities.

The army regained control of the main airport, which had previously been occupied by protesters.