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Protests and the state of emergency in Kazakhstan

06.01.2022
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https://www.bbc.com/russian/news-59875406

Kazakhstan was gripped by massive protests over the rise in prices for liquefied gas. A state of emergency was declared in the country, the government was dismissed. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called the protesters conspirators who are "financially motivated." He promised to act as tough as possible against the protesters who clash with the police.

In a televised address to the population, Tokayev also announced that from now on he, and not the "father of the nation" Nursultan Nazarbayev, heads the Security Council of Kazakhstan.

The Collective Security Treaty Organization sent military personnel to Kazakhstan at the request of the country's president. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who heads the organization's Collective Security Council, stated this on Facebook.

Tokayev asked the CSTO countries for military support on Wednesday evening. According to Pashinyan, the CSTO Collective Security Council decided to send peacekeeping forces to Kazakhstan "for a limited time period in order to stabilize and normalize the situation in this country."

Throughout the country, the Internet is disconnected, in some cities - and landline telephone communications, at least eight TV channels have disappeared from the air.

The airport does not work in Almaty, some companies have canceled flights to the city.

Protesters set fire to an administration building in Almaty, and clashes continue between demonstrators and police in the city. According to the commandant of Almaty, more than 500 people were injured. Kanat Tatsmerdenov also said that 120 cars, including police and ambulances, were burned in the city overnight, 120 shops and kiosks and 180 restaurants and cafes were destroyed.

On Wednesday morning, Kazakh President Tokayev dismissed the government, blaming it for "allowing a protest situation" and instructing to introduce state regulation of prices in the country for socially significant goods, as well as gasoline and diesel. In addition, he proposed a moratorium on increasing utility tariffs for the population for a period of 180 days.

 

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