The government of Kazakhstan has resigned after anti-government protesters stormed and torched government buildings. Shots can be heard ringing out in several videos of the protests, though it is unclear which side of the action they are coming from.
Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev accepted the resignation of his country’s prime minister and Cabinet members on January 5th following violent anti-government protests that began after the price of liquefied petroleum gas more than doubled when the country lifted its price controls, according to CNN.
BREAKING: Kazakhstan government resigns as protesters storm capitalhttps://t.co/fnWf89H4C4 pic.twitter.com/yMf05S3xCJ
— Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) January 5, 2022
Tokayev is now asking his acting Cabinet and provincial governors to return to the price controls. He also asked the acting Cabinet to consider freezing utility bills, creating a bankruptcy law, and subsidizing rent for the poor, and called for “socially important” goods, such as gasoline, to be included in the reestablished price controls.
Protesters were frustrated with the high prices because of the fact that Kazakhstan exports gas and oil, according to reporting from the New York Times.
These new developments from the government were made possible because of the protests by citizens of Kazakhstan, who took to the streets in large numbers all across the country.
In #Kazakhstan, thousands flocked to the streets to protest rising fuel prices & a collapsing economy. Hours later, the Kazakh govt resigned. Take a look.pic.twitter.com/ys8UFkYr6M
— Steve Hanke (@steve_hanke) January 5, 2022
Nearly 10,000 protesters demonstrated in Almaty, the country’s largest city, outside of the city’s akimat, an administration building.
Anti-government protests are spreading and growing across #Kazakhstan 🇰🇿 tonight.
Protests initially started in #Zhanaozen over a rise in fuel prices but are now taking place in several cities, including the former capital #Almaty. #zhanaozen2022 pic.twitter.com/kputEXQKb3
— Thomas van Linge (@ThomasVLinge) January 4, 2022
Kazakhtelecom, the largest telecommunication company in Kazakhstan, allegedly cut off internet access in response to the protests.
Video of the protest in Almaty. The internet has now been completely shut down. #kazakhstan #Казахстан pic.twitter.com/c0I22e4USw
— Luke (@LukeSt_K) January 4, 2022
“Attempts were made to attack akimats, smashing windows and doors and inflicting other material damage. In some cases, the crowd used stones, sticks, gas and pepper sprays, as well as incendiary bottles,” Kazakh Interior Ministry said in a statement.
The Interior Ministry estimated that over 95 law enforcement officers were injured in the protests, and over 200 individuals were detained.
In a surprising turn of events, police officers in many areas ended up announcing they would not act against the protesters, and reports came out indicating that some even openly sided with the protesters.
In #Aktobe, west #Kazakhstan, the police reportedly announced that it would not be acting against the protesters:
— Alex Kokcharov (@AlexKokcharov) January 5, 2022
Videos from the protests also show citizens detaining military personnel.
NOW – Citizens in #Kazakhstan detain military personnel as violent anti-government protests continue to roil the country.pic.twitter.com/MfzpKNPsA8
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) January 5, 2022
