Kazakhstan’s president declares state of emergency as protests over fuel price jump turns violent
Violent protests broke out in Kazakhstan’s most populated city on Wednesday over fuel prices that resulted in President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declaring a state of emergency as government buildings were attacked across Almaty.
Reuters reported that up to 100 security officers were injured in clashes that involved authorities using stun grenades and tear gas to break up about 1,000 or so demonstrators.
Beginning in the new year, the price of liquefied gas, which is widely used for cooking and heating, doubled to 120 tenge ($0.27) per liter, a significant increase in the country where the minimum wage is 42,500 tenge ($98) a month. Tokayev accepted the government’s resignation, but the move seemed to do little to calm the crowds. – READ MORE
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