Protest in Kazakhstan (Photo: Vladimir Tretyakov / Shatterstock)
On the verge of a coup: Protesters in Kazakhstan have taken over the airport in Almaty, the largest city in the country, Reuters reported tonight (Wednesday). Sources noted that all flights to and from Kazakhstan have been temporarily canceled following the violent clashes that have been recorded in the country in the last two days against the government.
Another protest hotspot was registered in Almaty in the afternoon, when a number of armed protesters broke into the presidential palace and set it on fire. The President of Kazakhstan, Kassim-Jumert Tokayev, was not at the palace at the time of the incident and is currently staying at his residence in Nursultan, the capital formerly called Astana.
Following the riots, Tukayev declared a state of emergency in several areas of the country, including Almaty, Norsultan and Mengistau province where demonstrations began earlier this week in protest of rising fuel prices. Tokayev clarified that he had accepted the resignation of the government amid the unrest, but made it clear that he would remain in office at Nursultan and also appointed himself chairman of the Security Council of Kazakhstan.
As mentioned, last night the government of Kazakhstan announced its resignation following the heavy protest over the rise in fuel prices. Nearly 100 policemen were injured in clashes between protesters and police, who were forced to use tear gas and stun grenades to disperse hundreds of protesters in Almaty, which toppled the statue of former President Norsultan Nazarbayev.
Following the resignation of the government, President Tokayev ordered the restoration of control over fuel, and other products that are “socially important” to consumers. He also ordered the new Provisional Government to subsidize rents for poor families. Despite this, the clashes between the parties continued and became a protest against the government. Thousands of protesters marched on the city center, some in trucks, after security forces failed to disperse them.
Did you find a mistake in the article? Does the content in the article infringe your copyright? Encountered an inappropriate advertisement? Report to us