Former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev addressed citizens on Tuesday for the first time since the beginning of the year, stating that the aim of the recent fuel riots was to 'destroy' Kazakh integrity and the foundations of the state.

Speaking on the riots that occurred in January, Nazarbayev stated that the events 'shocked the whole of Kazakhstan.'

"The purpose of these organised riots and attacks on Kazakhstan was to destroy the integrity of the country and the foundations of our state. "These incidents have once again demonstrated that independence should be guarded like the apple of the eye, like a fragile vessel requiring especially careful handling," said Nazarbayev.

Nazarbayev went on to declare that the organisers of the riots should be found, and gave condolences to the families of the victims.

The former president also denied rumours regarding severe controversies in the country's government, calling them 'unfounded.'

The unrest in Kazakhstan started after anti-government rallies began in the Mangistau region on January 2, as prices of LPG (Liquefied petroleum gas) rose from 60 to 120 tenge (€0.12 to €0.24; $0.14 to $0.28) per litre on January 1.

The price hike came after the government lifted price controls on LPG, citing a need to liberalise the market.

According to Kazakhstan's Ministry of Health, over 1,300 people were injured and almost 400 hospitalised during the unrest.

The official number of those detained, provided by the country’s Interior Ministry, is over 10,000.

According to the Prosecutor General's Office of Kazakhstan, at least 225 people died during the protests, including civilians. The total number of victims stands at 4,578 people.