Published
Nationwide protests against high gas prices have sparked a serious political crisis in Kazakhstan in Central Asia. The military has now been used against demonstrators in the city of Almaty. President Tokayev asks foreign countries for help.
In Kazakhstan, thousands are protesting against the rise in the price of petrol. The protesters not only paralyzed the airport, but also set fire to the president’s residence.
20 minutes
Serious riots broke out in Kazakhstan over the rise in gas prices.
Even after the resignation of the government, Kazakhstan did not calm down.
The government announced on Wednesday evening that it had regained control of the country’s main airport.
The military intervened after violent riots in Kazakhstan in Central Asia. “Terrorist gangs” had fought a fight with paratroopers in the city of Almaty, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in a televised address on Thursday night. The city’s airport has been liberated, Kazakh media reported, citing the deputy mayor of Almaty, Appeared Babakumarov. A “special operation” has started.
According to media reports, the airport had announced on Wednesday afternoon that the airport had been evacuated and the employees had left the site. The reason is that a crowd has occupied the building. Several airlines then canceled flights to Almaty.
Across the country, parts of the population had previously taken to the streets because of high gas prices.
AFP
Starting from the west of the country, protests also broke out in the economic metropolis of Almaty and in the capital Nur-Sultan.
AFP
Displeasure turned into violent protests
A military alliance under Russian leadership wants to send peacekeeping troops to unrest-shaken Kazakhstan. The organization of the collective security treaty is responding to a previous request by Tokayev, said the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, whose country is currently chairing the alliance.
Tokayev also said earlier in his address that it was “not a threat”, “but an undermining of the integrity of the state”.
Nationwide protests have plunged the ex-Soviet republic into a serious political crisis. The government resigned on Wednesday. A state of emergency was declared in the authoritarian country. There were particularly violent riots in the economic metropolis of Almaty. Protesters stormed the city administration and the Tokayev residence.
The situation was initially confusing. There were no exact numbers of victims. In any case, it is the biggest wave of protests in years in the former Soviet republic, which was ruled for decades by the ruler Nursultan Nazarbayev.
No internet in the whole country
The country with more than 18 million inhabitants borders among others with Russia and China. It is rich in oil and gas reserves. The republic is also one of the largest uranium producers in the world. Nevertheless, Kazakhstan is struggling with mismanagement and poverty.
How many thousands of people took part in the protests was unclear. The internet was shut down – presumably to make new meetings more difficult. Several television stations stopped operating.
On Wednesday, Tokayev addressed the people with a speech. He said: «The situation threatens the safety of all citizens of Almaty. That cannot be tolerated. ” The security forces would act “as hard as possible”. The president also spoke of fatalities in the riots.
The protest started over the weekend. The trigger was the significant increase in the prices for liquefied gas at the filling stations. Many Kazakhs use liquefied petroleum gas because it is cheaper than gasoline.
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(DPA / small)