ARTICLES

Protests in Kazakhstan: State of Emergency in Almaty and Government Resigns

05 January 2022, 14:00

Mass protests continue over rising liquefied petroleum gas prices.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed decrees declaring a two-week state of emergency in the Mangistau region and the city of Almaty.

The presidential press service said: "In connection with the escalation of the situation, in order to ensure public safety, restore law and order, and protect the rights and freedoms of citizens, Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed decrees introducing a state of emergency in the Mangistau region and the city of Almaty from January 5, from 1:30 a.m., until midnight on January 19, 2022."

Media reports say a curfew has been imposed in Almaty and the Mangistau region from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. The following decisions have also been adopted for the duration of the state of emergency:

Strengthen the protection of public order and of particularly important state and strategic facilities, as well as facilities that ensure the life support of the population and the functioning of transport.
Impose restrictions on freedom of movement, including of vehicles, in the city of Almaty.
Ensure checks of identity documents, personal searches, and searches of belongings and vehicles of individuals.
Restrict entry to and exit from the city of Almaty.
Ban the organization and holding of peaceful assemblies, entertainment events, sports events and other mass events.
Ban strikes and other ways of suspending or terminating the activities of legal entities.
Ban the sale of weapons, ammunition, explosives, special means and toxic substances.
Establish a special regime for the circulation of medicines, narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, precursors, as well as ethyl alcohol and alcohol products.
Ensure the temporary seizure from individuals of weapons, ammunition and toxic substances, and from legal entities also of combat and training military equipment, explosive and radioactive substances.

Mass protests have been ongoing in Kazakhstan for several days over rising liquefied petroleum gas prices. Since the New Year, its price at local filling stations has more than doubled: from 50-60 tenge per liter (about $0.13) to 120 tenge per liter ($0.27).

On January 4, clashes between protesters and police, special forces and the military broke out in almost all major cities across the country, including Nur-Sultan. According to preliminary data, more than 200 people have already been detained in Almaty.

Law enforcement officers are using special means (tear gas and stun grenades) against demonstrators, while rallygoers are setting police vehicles on fire. Police have also tightened security measures, and detentions of activists and media representatives have become more frequent.

As a result, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev accepted the government's resignation, and Alikhan Smailov will temporarily serve as acting prime minister.

Tokayev's decree states: "In accordance with Article 70 of the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan, I hereby decree:

to accept the resignation of the government of the Republic of Kazakhstan
to temporarily assign the duties of prime minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Alikhan Askhanovich Smailov
members of the government of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall continue to perform their duties until a new government is approved."

The decree takes effect from the day it is signed. The president blamed the outgoing government for the rise in gas prices and said the Cabinet had failed to meet one of its tasks: curbing inflation.

Despite the government's resignation, protests in Kazakhstan have not stopped. Participants in the mass anti-government protests are attacking security forces and seizing their equipment and even weapons.

A video has appeared on social media showing a crowd of demonstrators surrounding a group of police officers, as a result of which one of them had his assault rifle taken away.

In Almaty, people are storming the administration building, while in Aktobe, security forces have pushed people back from the akimat building. Stun grenades exploded during the clashes, and a police officer was wounded.

Thousands of protesters broke through the police cordon on Republic Square in Almaty. Demonstrators armed themselves with rubber batons and occupied the akimat (regional executive authority).

A fire broke out in the administration building, and the prosecutor's office building also caught fire.