Rau held the discussions on Monday in his capacity as Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which Poland is presiding over in 2022, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
After speaking to his Kazakh counterpart, Mukhtar Tileuberdi, Poland’s top diplomat tweeted that the phone call concerned the situation in the Central Asian country.
He added: “As the OSCE Chairman, I stressed the need of upholding the OSCE commitments, including those relating to human rights.”
Rau then spoke to Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, later announcing via Twitter that the conversation focused on “the current situation in Kazakhstan.”
Armenia chairs the regional Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO)’s Collective Security Council.
On Sunday, the Polish foreign minister stated: “We continue to follow the emergency situation in Kazakhstan with concern, in particular reports on deaths and injuries amid protests.”
Rau added at the time: “We encourage Kazakhstan’s constitutional authorities, while exercising the monopoly on the use of power to enforce internal order.”
Day of mourning in Kazakhstan
Monday was declared a day of mourning in the Central Asian country, after more than 160 people, including 16 security officials, were killed in the violent anti-government protests, according to Kazakhstan’s health ministry.
According to Kazakh media, almost 8,000 people were arrested over the upheaval, including foreign nationals.
The protests erupted on January 2 after the government announced a drastic hike in fuel prices.
During days of violent unrest, protesters aimed to take over government buildings and the headquarters of state-run TV stations, the IAR news agency reported. In some places, people smashed shops and offices of the ruling party and tried to destroy cash dispensers.
By Monday, law enforcement agencies had regained control of the situation, IAR reported.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR