Kazakhstan: President Toqayev declares state of emergency in Almaty and Mangystau Region until Jan. 19 after mass protest, clashes in Almaty Jan. 4-5 /update 1

Event

Kazakhstani President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev has declared a state of emergency in Almaty and Mangystau Region effective from Jan. 5 until Jan. 19 following disruptive protests in major cities Jan. 4-5. Authorities have also implemented a nightly curfew in Almaty effective 23:00-07:00 during the state of emergency and have limited freedom of movement within, into, and out of the city. Additionally, gatherings and other mass events have been suspended in Almaty.

The measures notably came as thousands of protesters 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. Telecommunications disruptions have been reported in Kazakhstan amid the unrest, with Telegram, Signal, and WhatsApp mobile applications all experiencing outages.

Heightened security measures and significant disruptions to transport and business are likely in protest-affected cities, especially in Almaty, over the coming days and weeks. 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.