Kazakhstan’s Interior Ministry has announced the arrest of more than 5,100 people during recent protests in the country.
“So far, 5,135 people have been arrested throughout Kazakhstan,” the Kazakh Interior Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
“About 300 people have been arrested in while trying to cross the country’s borders,” added Kazakh Interior Minister Yerlan Turgumbayev.
The arrested persons were reportedly found in possession of firearms, stolen items and large amounts of money in local and foreign currencies.
Kazakhstan has been plagued by a wave of protests that have begun with economic demands that have turned into violent clashes between demonstrators and security forces in a number of cities, including Alma-Ata, the country’s largest city.
Reports also added that amongst the detainees is Arman Dzhumageldiev, better known under the moniker Arman Dikiy, a well-known crime boss of Azeri origin who reportedly flew from Turkey to Kazakhstan in order to coordinate anti-government activity there.
