Kazakhstan protested: President Kassim-Jomart Tokayev said in television speeches that foreign-trained “terrorist” gangs seized buildings, infrastructure, and weapons, and had taken five planes, including those who were foreign, at Almaty Airport.
Many cities in Kazakhstan have witnessed riots because thousands of protesters took to the streets on a sharp increase in liquid oil gas prices (LPG), which was most widely used by Kazakhs as a fuel car.
Price increases occur when the country ends a gradual transition to electronic trading for LPG to stop state subsidies for fuel and let the market determine the price.
Although the government announced on Tuesday that fuel prices would be reduced to a level even lower than before the increase, and on Wednesday the President of Kassim-Jomart Tokayev fired his cabinet, his protest continued.
What’s the main problem?
The reform of fuel market was first responded to 2015 it began to apply at the beginning of the month. It tries to remove the closing of the state price for butane and propane – often referred to as ‘fuel roads for poor people’ because of their low cost – while ensuring the local market is supplied properly.
Previous subsidies have created a situation when Kazakhstan, a major oil producer, regularly faces the lack of butane and propane.
When the price is fully liberalized on January 1 (Saturday), the government’s expectation is that supply to the domestic market will rise and help overcome chronic shortages.
But the size was donated, because the price almost doubled last night to 120 Tenge per liter.
Where does protest begin?
Popular anger shed first in Kazakhstan Barat, an area rich in oil, during the weekend. On Tuesday, the whole country was under his grip.
Anger among the people has been high because of the increasing inflation that closes 9% year-to-year – the highest in more than five years – leading the central bank to raise interest rates to 9.75%.
Resource-rich countries of 19 million are expected to have a million people living below the poverty line.
Protests have not had an impact on Kazakhstan oil production.
Eight police killed in protest
Eight police and national guard forces were killed in riots on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the Russian news agency Sputnik.
Demonstrators have controlled airports in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, the Reuters news agency reported, leading to flight cancellations.
President Tokayev said in television speeches that trained “terrorist” gangs from abroad seized buildings, infrastructure, and weapons, and had taken five planes, including those who were foreign, at Almaty Airport.
Almaty residents told Reuters that Vodka was distributed in the almmm. “There is a complete anarchy on the road,” he added.
The Russian-LED security alliance of former Soviet countries will send peacekeeping forces to Kazakhstan, Armenian Prime Minister said on Thursday.
Nazarbayev’s angle.
Initially triggered by anger on the increase in fuel prices, protests had quickly spread to oppose wider opposition to President Tokayev, Nazarbayev’s predecessor, who maintained significant strength as a “leader of the nation” despite stopping in 2019 after almost three decades.
Nazarbayev, 81, has been widely seen as the main political force in Nur-Sultan, the capital that bears its name. His family is believed to control many economics, the largest in Central Asia. He hasn’t been seen or heard since the protest begins.
The recording appeared on the social media that showed the protesters to sang under the giant bronze statue of Nazarbayev, hung with a rope, which they then dragged down.