In Kazakhstan, for security reasons, the work of exchange offices of banks has been temporarily suspended. This is stated in the message of the National Bank of the Republic on measures to ensure the stability of the financial system.
“The activities of exchange offices of second-tier banks and authorized organizations are temporarily suspended for the safety and security of exchange offices, as well as their employees and clients,” the National Bank’s website says.
The regulator also notes that due to interruptions in the Internet and the ongoing counter-terrorism operation in Almaty and other regions, the restoration of the banking system will be phased.
So, on January 10, the payment systems of the Republican State Enterprise “Kazakhstani Center for Interbank Settlements of the National Bank” will be launched for making tenge payments of the financial sector and the state budget, including the enrollment of pensions, benefits and salaries.
Trading on the currency platform of the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange will continue as the situation in the republic stabilizes.
Earlier, the Agency for the Protection and Development of Competition (AZRK) of Kazakhstan recommended to suspend trading on commodity exchanges in the country amid massive protests.
“Taking into account the introduction of a state of emergency in the country and temporary regulation of prices for certain exchange commodities, the Exchange Committee recommended to suspend exchange trading on commodity exchanges,” the ministry said in a statement.
On the territory of Kazakhstan, due to the protests and unrest that began in January, a state of emergency is in effect until January 19. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the republic, as a result of the riots, about 6,000 people were detained, and it was also reported about the deaths on both sides. At the request of President Tokayev, the CSTO sent a peacekeeping contingent to the republic to stabilize the situation.
The head of the republic also instructed the government of the country to create a special investigation group to identify the reasons for the mass protests, to establish and prosecute all those responsible.
The damage to business in Kazakhstan from the riots, according to preliminary data, amounted to more than 80 billion tenge ($ 183.7 million), the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs said earlier.
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