During the ongoing unrest in Kazakhstan, dozens of attackers were "eliminated" after attempting to storm administrative buildings and the police department in Almaty, according to a media source.

According to a report released on Thursday by Russia's TASS news agency, 12 law enforcement officials were killed and 353 others were injured in the skirmishes with protesters in Almaty. The "anti-terrorist" special operation in the city continues, and police have asked residents and tourists to stay at home for their own protection, according to media reports quoting Kazakhstan's Khabar-24 TV station.

According the report, over 1,000 people have been hurt in Kazakhstan, with about 400 of them being hospitalised as a result of the recent violent protests. In the meanwhile, the Interior Ministry claims that 2,298 demonstrators have been arrested. On Wednesday, protestors stormed the main government building in Almaty, set fire to police cars, and attacked the provincial chapter of the ruling Nur Otan party, triggered by dissatisfaction with rising fuel prices.

The Kazakh government asked help from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), which opted to send peacekeeping soldiers to the country in response to the growing turmoil.

Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Tajikistan, and Armenia make up the CSTO. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has blamed the uprising on foreign-trained "terrorists" without providing evidence. He has also dismissed his cabinet, including his predecessor, Nursultan Nazarbayev, who has been in charge of national security since standing down as President.

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