Smoke rises from the building of the City Hall during a protest in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, January 5, 2022. News outlets in Kazakhstan are reporting that protesters protesting rising fuel prices broke into the mayor’s office in the country’s largest city and flames were seen coming out. From inside
Kazakhstan Protest News: Angered by rising fuel prices, protesters ransacked the mayor’s office in Kazakhstan’s largest city on Wednesday and attempted to break into the central Asian country’s president’s residence, according to local news reports.
The report said flames were seen coming from one floor of the mayor’s building after the demolition, but it was not clear how widespread the fire was.
Thousands of protesters gathered outside the presidential residence in Almaty and allegedly tried to break in. A fire was also reported at the city prosecutor’s office.
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Kazakh news site Zakon said that many of the protesters gathered in the mayor’s building in Almaty carrying clubs and shields.
Protests against a sharp rise in liquefied gas prices began this week in the country’s west.
As the protests spread to Almaty and the capital of Kazakhstan, Nur-Sultan, the government resigned.
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Despite the government’s resignation, all ministers will remain in their positions until a new cabinet is formed – and it is unclear whether the move will lead to a change in policy or have any effect on growing opposition.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared a state of emergency in Almaty, imposed an overnight curfew and limited access to the city. He later imposed a state of emergency in the capital for two weeks.
At the start of the year, the price of the gas used to power many vehicles nearly doubled as the government concluded a shift away from price controls.
Dozens of police vehicles were torched or vandalized in Almaty.
Although Kazakhstan has extensive gas and oil reserves and mineral wealth, discontent over poor living conditions in some parts of the country remains strong.
Many Kazakhs also dispute the dominance of the ruling party, which holds more than 80% of the seats in parliament.
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