Kazakhstan: airport occupied - military intervenes after unrest with several dead

Created: 01/05/2022, 10:10 PM

For the third day in a row, thousands of people took to the streets of Kazakhstan in Central Asia in protest against high energy prices.

© Vladimir Tretyakov / dpa

Several police officers and soldiers were killed in protests against high gas prices in Kazakhstan.

The military had to step in.

President Tokayev asks foreign countries for help.

Almaty - The military intervened after violent riots in Kazakhstan in Central Asia.

"Terrorist gangs" had fought a fight with paratroopers in the city of Almaty, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in a televised address on Thursday night.

The city's airport in the southeast of the authoritarian republic has been "liberated", reported the Kazakh media, citing the deputy mayor of Almaty, Edzhan Babakumarov.

A "special operation" has started.

Riots in Kazakhstan over the rise in gas prices: protesters occupy the airport

According to the media, a crowd occupied the airport on Wednesday afternoon.

Several airlines then canceled flights to Almaty.

Tokayev also said in his address that he had asked the Russian-led military alliance Organization of the Collective Security Treaty for help.

The riots that broke out over the weekend are “not a threat, but an undermining of the integrity of the state”.

Riot police block protesters in downtown Almaty.

© Vladimir Tretyakov / dpa

The unprecedented protests in Kazakhstan, in which, according to the authorities, at least eight police officers and soldiers have so far been killed, broke out out of displeasure at the significantly higher prices for liquefied gas at filling stations.

Many Kazakhs use liquefied petroleum gas because it is cheaper than gasoline.

Violent riots across the country - Almaty city administration stormed

The ex-Soviet republic was plunged into a serious political crisis.

The government resigned on Wednesday.

A state of emergency has been declared across the country.

There were particularly violent riots in Almaty.

In the economic metropolis, demonstrators stormed the city administration and Tokayev's residence.

In Kazakhstan, which was ruled by the ruler Nursultan Nazarbayev for decades, it is the largest wave of protests in years.

The country with more than 18 million inhabitants borders among others on Russia and China *.

It is rich in oil and gas reserves.

The republic is also one of the largest uranium producers in the world.

Nevertheless, Kazakhstan is struggling with mismanagement and poverty.

How many thousands of people took part in the protests was unclear.

In the meantime, the Internet has been switched off - presumably to make new meetings more difficult.

Several television stations stopped operating.