In Kazakhstan, large-scale protests against the increase in prices for liquefied gas have covered the entire country - the situation has become reminiscent of the Ukrainian Maidan.
The reason for the New Year's protests was the decision of the authorities of the Mangystau region in the west of Kazakhstan to raise the price of liquefied gas from 1 tenge (60 hryvnias) to 3,78 tenge (120 hryvnias) per liter from January 7,56.
The Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan announced that from January 1, liquefied gas will be fully traded on the stock exchange, which will "allow gas prices to be balanced on the basis of supply and demand," as well as "attract investment" for new production facilities. As stated in the department, the consumption of liquefied gas in the country is growing daily, and the volume remains at the same level, therefore, before the transition to electronic auctions, gas was sold at a price below the cost price, which led to losses for producers.
Protest actions of Kazakhs dissatisfied with this decision began in the city of Zhanaozen, whose residents went to the regional administration building and blocked traffic in the city center on January 2. The protesters demanded to reduce gas prices to the previous level and to bring to them from Nur-Sultan those responsible for the increase in fuel prices. Some of the protesters did not disperse to their homes for the night, but the next day more than a thousand people gathered on the city square.
Protesters in Zhanaozen were supported in other cities and villages of the region, as well as in other cities of the country, including Aktobe, Almaty and Nur-Sultan.
As a result, after three days, the authorities went into reverse and the price of gas returned to the mark of 50 tenge. However, the moment was already missed and although gas prices were lowered, now the protesters are demanding the full resignation of the government and withdrawal from the politics of ex-president Nursultan Nazarbayev, as well as the removal of his immunity.
According to local mass media, rallies are now taking place all over the country: from large cities to small villages. Demonstrators are being detained, people are trying to fight back the detainees and block the central streets. It is reported that first shots were fired in Alma-Ata. Mobile operators began to block social networks, in particular Telegram and WhatsApp.
According to government media, the situation in Kazakhstan is increasingly reminiscent of a coup d'état.
Oppositionists, including Ablyazov Mukhtar, call on the security forces and the military to go over to the side of the people.
At the moment, more than a thousand people have gathered on Republic Square in Almaty, protesting against police cars. In response, security forces used tear gas and stun grenades.
It also became known that the protesters tried to storm the building of the akimat (administration) of the regional center of Aktau.
In turn, as the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated in his address, the calls of protesters to attack civil and military departments are considered absolutely illegal. The head of state added that the well-being of the country's inhabitants and its place in the modern world are now at stake.
