Kazakhstan president fires defence minister for lack of leadership during protests

FILE PHOTO: Kazakh service members patrol a street following recent protests triggered by fuel price increase in Almaty, Kazakhstan January 12, 2022. REUTERS/Pavel Mikheyev

ALMATY (Reuters) -Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev fired his defence minister on Wednesday, accusing him of failing to show leadership and initiative when the Central Asian country was rocked by its worst unrest in 30 years of independence.

The removal of Murat Bektanov marked the latest stage in Tokayev's purge of the security establishment as he consolidates power after violent protests shook the former Soviet republic in the first week of January.