Status: 05.01.2022 4:26 p.m.
The protests in Kazakhstan continued even after the government resigned. Riots broke out and the town hall in Almaty was stormed. The situation is confusing. The president announced a “tough” reaction.
Even after the resignation of the government, Kazakhstan is not calming down: New protests against the rise in gas prices led to serious clashes, and demonstrators stormed the town hall in the economic metropolis of Almaty. Many protesters carried clubs and shields.
The Tengrinews News Agency published videos showing flames at the administrative headquarters and black smoke rising. There were always popping noises to be heard. According to the AFP news agency, the police used stun grenades and tear gas. Several men in police uniforms also put down their helmets and shields and hugged demonstrators.
Reports of multiple fires
According to local media reports, protesters also tried to break into the president’s residence. Thousands of people gathered in front of the building, there is also said to have been a fire. Fires have also broken out in other public institutions. Protesters smashed windows in several buildings and set vehicles on fire.
According to news agencies, the situation is confusing. It is difficult to get an exact picture of the situation because the Internet has been switched off – presumably to make new meetings more difficult. Several television stations temporarily shut down. The authorities spoke of around 500 injured in Almaty alone.
The government had previously resigned as a result of the mass protests. However, all ministers are still in office until a new government is formed. Night curfews have been imposed in several parts of the country – including Almaty and the capital Nur-Sultan.
President announces “tough” reaction
President Kassym-Shomart Tokayev announced a “tough” reaction. This is a crime that will be followed by a penalty, said the head of state. It will proceed “as hard as possible”. According to Tokayev, there were also deaths. He didn’t give any numbers. “There are dead and injured,” he said in an appeal first circulated by Russian media. “The situation threatens the safety of all citizens of Almaty. And that cannot be tolerated.”
Tokayev also promised reforms. “I will soon go public with new proposals for the political transformation of Kazakhstan,” he said without giving any details. At the same time he rejected rumors that he wanted to leave the country. Rather, he assumed the chairmanship of the Security Council. “It is my constitutional duty to be with the people. Together we will overcome this black line in the history of Kazakhstan.”
Arrests and injuries
The protests began after the price of liquefied petroleum gas – which is used to power many cars in Kazakhstan – doubled. This was a consequence of the government’s decision to lift price controls. The protests began on Sunday in Shangaosen in the center of the western Mangystau region and spread to other parts of the country. Attempts by the government to contain it by lowering the price of gas have failed. More than 200 people were arrested and dozens of police officers were injured.
President Tokayev has been in office since 2019. He is the successor to long-time head of state Nursultan Nazarbayev, who had ruled Kazakhstan since 1989. The 81-year-old Nazarbayev continues to control the country’s politics as the “leader of the nation”. The title grants him extensive privileges and immunity from prosecution.
Kazakhstan has large reserves of oil, gas and other mineral resources. However, the standard of living is low in parts of the country.