In various cities of Kazakhstan, clashes broke out between law enforcement officers and protesters against the rise in gas prices. As reported, in particular, by the KazTAG news agency in its Telegram channel on Tuesday, January 4, several thousand people broke through the police cordon in front of Republic Square in Alma-Ata. According to the agency’s correspondent, there are at least 5 thousand people on the square. The security forces are apparently using flashbang grenades.
It is also reported that the protesters are breaking through in the direction of the Akimat of Almaty. “The protesters turn over on the roof and smash police buses, police cars. They broke the benches, made sticks out of them, and with these sticks they smash cars,” said the journalist of KazTAG.
The media also write about clashes in Taraz, Aktau and other cities. In the capital of the country, Nur-Sultan, several hundred people were detained, including a journalist for the Kazakh edition of Radio Liberty. Local residents reported that a large group of security officials arrived in Aktau, armed, among other things, with firearms. According to the Internet magazine “Vlast”, in different cities of Kazakhstan, protesters blocked streets, railway crossings and tracks. Added to the economic demands were calls for an improvement in the well-being of the people and the resignation of the government.
Mobile internet interruptions and media blocking
Internet interruptions began in the republic amid protests. In Alma-Ata, according to the Kazakh Internet magazine “Vlast”, mobile Internet and messengers Whats App, Telegram and Signal do not work. Mobile operators Beeline and Kcell confirmed to “RIA Novosti” agency interruptions with mobile Internet for reasons beyond their control.
Meanwhile, the international human rights organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) demanded that the Kazakh authorities stop censoring the KazTAG agency and the Orda.kz website. “KazTAG and Orda.kz are blocked amid coverage of protests against higher gas prices. KazTAG news agency has refused to remove the article at the ministry’s request for allegedly false information. RSF calls for an end to this censorship,” Reporters Without Borders said in a statement.
Tokayev to demonstrators: “Power will not fall”
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Tuesday night made a video message to the demonstrators. He urged his compatriots not to submit to provocations. “Calls to attack civilian and military departments are absolutely illegal. This is a crime that may be punished. Power will not fall, but we do not need a conflict, but mutual trust and dialogue,” the head of state emphasized.
Tokayev noted that all the legal demands of the demonstrators will be taken into account. Separately, he turned to young people, urging young people “not to spoil their path in life and not to poison the lives of loved ones.”
The protests continue for the third day
Protests against the doubling of gas prices began in western Kazakhstan on January 2. As the protesters told the KazTAG agency, from January 1, the price for a liter of liquefied gas increased to 120 tenge (0.24 euros – Ed.)
In the afternoon of January 4, representatives of the government arrived in Aktau. After a meeting in the building of the regional government, it was decided to lower gas prices to 50 tenge. But that did not stop the protesters.
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