Kazakhstan: President Toqayev accepts resignation of government Jan. 5; additional protests possible /update 2

Event

Kazakhstani President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev has reportedly accepted the resignation of the country's government in a presidential decree Jan. 5 following violent demonstrations over fuel price hikes. The president has appointed Deputy Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov as interim prime minister, while the rest of the former administration will remain in office until the formation of a new government.

President Toqayev had earlier declared a state of emergency in Almaty and Mangystau Region Jan. 5-19 following disruptive protests in major cities. Thousands of activists marched in Almaty and clashed with security forces Jan. 4-5. Police reportedly fired tear gas and stun grenades to prevent hundreds of demonstrators from raiding the mayor's office late Jan. 4.

Heightened security measures and significant business and transport disruptions are likely in protest-affected cities, especially in Almaty, over the coming days and weeks. Authorities have implemented a 23:00-07:00 nightly curfew in Almaty, restricting movement within, into, and out of the city. Gatherings and other mass events are also prohibited. Reports indicate telecommunications disruptions nationwide amid the unrest, with Telegram, Signal, and WhatsApp mobile applications experiencing outages. Additional protests, clashes, and telecommunications disruptions are possible in major cities over the short term.

Context

The initial cause of the unrest was the recent lifting of price caps on liquified petroleum gas (LPG), which caused a doubling of LPG prices. Thousands of people denounced the price hikes in Zhanaozen Jan. 2, with related protests then spreading to other parts of Mangystau Region, including Aktau. The Kazakhstani government announced late Jan. 4 that it would restore the price ceiling in Mangystau Region amid disruptive protest activity.

Advice

Avoid all demonstrations and likely protest sites in Almaty and other protest-affected cities. Prepare for movement and telecommunications disruptions and heightened security measures in areas subject to the state of emergency and related restrictions. Adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation.