Israeli Killed in Kazakhstan Disturbances

Jerusalem, 9 January, 2022 (TPS) -- Lavan Kojiashvili, a 22-year-old Israeli, was killed Friday night by gunfire in the city of Almaty, Kazakhstan, during the violent riots in the country.

The Foreign Ministry announced that it is in contact with his parents who are in Kazakhstan and his family in Israel, and is assisting in transferring his body for burial in Israel.

Kojiashvili has lived in Kazakhstan for the past few years.

A rise in fuel prices triggered demonstrations which evolved into violent and deadly clashes across the country. Hundreds have been killed and thousands have been injured in the street battles.

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated Friday that it is “closely following developments in Kazakhstan and hopes to see calm and order restored.”

The Israeli Embassy in the capital Nur-Sultan, along with the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Jerusalem, is “in direct contact with Israeli citizens who are in the country in order to assist them during these times.”

“The good and strong relationship between the State of Israel and the Republic of Kazakhstan is based on the warm relations between the peoples and the fruitful cooperation between the governments,” the Ministry stated.

“As a key country in Central Asia and the founder of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) Forum for Peace, Security and Regional Stability, we look forward to the restoration of stability and calm in Kazakhstan soon,” the statement added.

Israel and Kazakhstan maintain close contacts in the defense and intelligence sector. As of 2019, over 25% of Israel’s oil purchases are from Kazakhstan.