Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- People perceive the situation in Kazakhstan more by rumors than by specific facts, we do not even know what the “protesters” really are and how effective the measures taken by the government are. Information arrives - almost simultaneously - that the basic economic demands of the protesters have already been met and the President of Kazakhstan has dismissed the government.

From 1 January, 2022, Kazakhstan has increased the price of liquefied gas from 50-60 tenge to 120 tenge per liter, which caused discontent among people. On 2 January, protests began in Zhanaozen, then residents of other regions, as a sign of support for their compatriots, went to numerous street demonstrations. As a result, this all led to riots in the country, the introduction of a state of emergency, as well as the resignation of the government. Nur.kz informs about it.

On 2 January, in Mangistau region, residents who were dissatisfied with the local authorities’ price policy for liquefied gas took to the streets. They demanded to reduce the cost of gas to 60 tenge, taking into account the size of the minimum wage. Protest actions in Aktau.

On the night of 2 to 3 January, about a thousand people gathered in the central square of Zhanaozen. Residents of Aktau, Atyrau, Almaty and other cities also took part in protests. Early in the morning, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, on his official Twitter account, spoke about the situation in the Mangistau region, where people dissatisfied with the local authorities’ price policy for liquefied gas took to the streets with demands.

The head of state instructed the government to urgently consider the situation in Zhanaozen, taking into account economic feasibility, in the legal field. He called on the demonstrators not to disturb public order. Closer to lunchtime, an interdepartmental commission was created to study the socio-economic situation in the region. In addition, by this time, some filling stations have already announced a reduction in gas prices from 120 to 85 - 90 tenge. On that day, Energy Minister Magzum Mirzagaliyev held a briefing at the CCS, where he commented on the question of whether the population had been warned in advance about an increase in the price of liquefied gas in the Mangistau region.

“This work started back in 2018. Accordingly, in 2019, the transition to the appropriate market mechanism began smoothly. In the legislative changes, all market participants, gas network organizations, gas stations, of course, were all aware. This process was actively discussed and broadcasted, "- said the head of the Ministry of Energy. Regarding the reasons for the shortage of autogas, he said that low prices do not stimulate the growth of its production, and also one of the reasons - and the growth of consumption.

He also explained why the Ministry of Energy reacted late to the events in Zhanaozen, because by that time people had been protesting for more than nine hours, but no reaction, except for a press release on the transition to electronic trading, was obtained from the relevant department. Mirzagaliyev said that as soon as it became known about the situation in Zhanaozen, his deputy immediately flew to Mangistau to meet on the spot with the heads and owners of gas stations and work out an acceptable solution to the problem.

In the evening of the same day, akim of Mangistau region Nurlan Nogayev met with car owners in Zhanaozen and called them to a constructive dialogue. Towards nightfall, tension began to build in many cities - people took to the streets in support of the Zhanaozen people, and also put forward their demands, despite the fact that the authorities promised to reduce prices. 

On 4 January, the protests continued. In the morning, Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev announced the start of the work of the government commission in Mangistau region. Closer to lunchtime, a government commission headed by Yeraly Tugzhanov arrived in the region and began its work. The members of the commission held talks with an initiative group of Zhanaozen activists, after which they met with activists who had gathered at Yntymak Square in Aktau.

As a result of the negotiations, it was decided to reduce the cost of liquefied gas and set the price at 50 tenge per liter in Mangistau region within the framework of the social responsibility of JSC NC KazMunayGas. At the same time, a video with the akim of Mangystau region appeared on social networks. The footage shows that the protesters stopped his car on the road. The press service of the head of the region said that Nurlan Nogayev was returning from the airport to Aktau after a meeting of members of the government commission. In the evening, the President of Kazakhstan addressed the demonstrators. The head of state said that the government had decided to reduce the price of liquefied gas in the Mangistau region to 50 tenge per liter. He again called on the demonstrators not to follow the calls of destructive individuals interested in undermining the stability and unity of our society. “Other requirements of a socio-economic nature will be considered separately,” the head of state said.

On 5 January, however, closer to night, the rallies that began in Almaty in the evening turned into riots. The protesters broke through to Republic Square. The security forces used flash bangs and tear gas against the protesters. A police officer was beaten. Protesters set fire to cars and smashed shop windows.

The square was blocked by the police, barriers were set up, and personnel were pulled to the place, security officials were given shields. There was also special equipment on the square. The building of the city akimat was cordoned off by a large number of police officers, SOBR officers and special forces. At night, interruptions to the mobile Internet began to be observed against the backdrop of mass rallies; Telegram, WhatsApp and Signal messengers stopped working in many cities.

Mobile Internet stopped working in Almaty. Riots also took place at night in Mangistau region. The protesters were filmed at the entrance to the regional akimat building in Aktau. Also on the video was the special forces. At two o’clock in the morning, Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev signed decrees on the introduction of a state of emergency in Mangistau region and the city of Almaty. For the period of the state of emergency, a curfew is imposed in Almaty and Mangistau, and entry and exit are limited.

On the morning of 5 January, the head of state signed a decree on the resignation of the government of Kazakhstan. Alikhan Smailov has been appointed acting prime minister of the country. Also, the president dismissed Krymbek Kusherbayev from the post of Secretary of State of Kazakhstan, and Erlan Karin was appointed to his place. Also in the morning, Akim of Almaty Bakytzhan Sagintayev addressed the townspeople in connection with the difficult situation in the megalopolis, he said that the situation in the city was taken under the control of the authorities.

The provocateurs and extremists are detained, the instigators are identified. At 9 am, the head of state held a meeting on the socio-economic situation in the country, the president noted that the government, in particular, the Ministry of Energy, as well as Kazmunaygaz and Kazakhgaz.

At the meeting, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev gave a number of instructions to stabilize the socio-economic situation. By 10 a.m. Telegram and WhatsApp messengers are still not working in Kazakhstan.

At this time, a cordon of police officers has been set up around the building of the capital’s administration in Nur-Sultan, the correspondent of Sputnik Kazakhstan reports.

The movement of vehicles on the streets around the building is prohibited. A few blocks from the administration, near the Zhastar Palace, SOBR officers with shields are on duty. The situation in the capital is calm. There is no Internet, there are interruptions in the work of TV channels. Residents of the capital cannot pay by non-cash method, therefore, they are massively withdrawing money from ATMs. Due to the lack of the Internet, a number of TV channels stopped broadcasting. MIR24, CPC, NTK, First Channel Eurasia are not working. The broadcasting is continued by the state channel "Khabar 24".