Almaty to Cleanse City of Disturbance-Makers Today; Protesters Armed with Automatic Weapons

On January 6, Almaty will undergo a large-scale cleansing of disturbance-makers, reports the KazTAG Telegram channel. Intense gunfire is taking place in Almaty, according to Sputnik Kazakhstan.

Eyewitnesses claim that the protesters are now armed not with sticks and stones, but with automatic weapons. An anti-terrorist special operation is underway in the city.

Previously, Kazakh media reported that two paratroopers from the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan were killed during the liberation of Almaty's airport. Sputnik Kazakhstan is attempting to verify this information through official sources.

Earlier, the Ministry of Internal Affairs urged citizens not to go out into the streets. A curfew has been declared in Almaty from 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM.