Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev has dismissed the government after a wave of protests swept the country, leading to clashes with police. Protests were sparked by a spike in the price of liquefied petroleum gas, which is widely seen as a fuel for economic growth.
According to the presidential decree…
“In accordance with Article 70 of the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan, I decide to accept the resignation of the government of the Republic of Kazakhstan.”
- Following a night of rising and increasingly violent protests around the country, extreme action was revealed on Wednesday morning. Current cabinet members will continue to serve until a new administration is constituted, even though the decree takes effect immediately. In the meanwhile, First Deputy Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov has been named interim Prime Minister.
- Protesters clashed with police in Almaty over a spike in the price of liquified petroleum gas (LPG). Police fired tear gas and stun grenades to quell unrest that began in the west of the country on Tuesday.
- Several photographs and videos circulating online show thousands of demonstrators vandalizing and burning police cars, while policemen were seen dispersing the mob with flashbang grenades and other non-lethal weapons.
- Protests have erupted in Tajikistan for the third day in a row, sparked by the government’s plan to remove price limitations on liquefied petroleum gas. Prime Minister Rustam Tokayev imposed price controls in an attempt to appease opponents, but the protests have become increasingly political. Demonstrators swiftly expanded their demands to include the resignation of the entire government.
Meanwhile, many Kazakhs have converted their cars to run on LPG, long far cheaper than gasoline as a vehicle fuel in Kazakhstan because of price caps. The government argued that the low price was unsustainable and lifted the caps on January 1. After rallies involving thousands of people erupted on January 2 in the town of Zhanaozen, an oil hub.
