The authorities of Almaty on the morning of January 6 are planning to carry out a large-scale cleanup of the city from looters and instigators of mass riots. This was announced on Wednesday, January 5, by the KazTAG Telegram channel.
Presumably, we are talking about a large-scale operation of law enforcement agencies with the involvement of the army.
Now eyewitnesses report the beginning of armed battles in Alma-Ata between the military and protesters.
Earlier it became known about the first casualties among the military, who began a special operation to liberate the Almaty airport. Two people were killed.
Prior to that, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan reported that at least eight police officers and military personnel of the National Guard were killed in clashes with demonstrators, another 317 were injured during the riots.
Protests in Kazakhstan began on January 2. Dissatisfied with the rise in the cost of liquefied gas, residents of the cities of Zhanaozen and Aktau in the Mangistau region – the oil-producing region of the republic – went to rallies. Fuel has risen in price from 60 tenge (10 rubles) per liter to 120 (20 rubles per liter). The authorities set up a government commission and promised to cut prices. The government of Kazakhstan has resigned.
The situation was especially aggravated in Alma-Ata: the protesters burst into the administration building, the city hall caught fire. The protesters also set fire to the building of the prosecutor’s office and the office of the ruling party. In addition, the Almaty residence of the President of Kazakhstan was seized.
During the riots, according to the latest data provided by the authorities, about 500 people were beaten in Almaty, including 130 women and old people. 120 vehicles were burned, including 33 ambulances and fire trucks.