Protests broke out in Kazakhstan the other day after gas prices more than doubled in the country’s oil-producing western province of Mangistau. As a result of the ongoing protests, the government decided to reduce gas prices again, while the protests had spread to different parts of the country before that.
As the protests spread throughout the country, Kazakhstan declared a State of Emergency in Almaty city and Mangistau province. A curfew was imposed in these areas between 5 and 19 January. After the Kazakhstan government reduced gas prices, political slogans criticizing the current administration’s system and demands for improving the socio-economic situation of the people were voiced in the protests that did not cease.
Kazakhstan government resigns
After the ongoing protests in the country, Kazakhstan President Kasım Cömert Tokayev accepted the resignation of the government headed by Askar Mamin in the morning. According to the statement, Alihan Smailov, who was previously Deputy Prime Minister, will carry out the duty of acting prime minister. It was decided that the members of the cabinet would remain in office until the new government took office. Many urgent measures were taken within the framework of the socio-economic demands of the people.
Images from the protests in Kazakhstan: