Several streets in the city centre of Almaty (the former capital of Kazakhstan, Alma-Ata) have been blocked off in connection with protests launched against the price of liquefied gas for cars
Police cordoned off the entire perimeter around Satpayev, Nazarbayev and Zheltoksan streets, Sputnik Kazakhstan reported.
Protests began January 2 in the town of Zhanaozen, Mangistau Oblast, after the price per litre of LPG, which many people fill their cars with in Kazakhstan, went up to 120 KZT (US $0.27) on January 1. Protesters demanded the price be reduced to 60 KZT (US $0.13).
On January 3, protests began in the city of Aktau. Protesters gathered in Yntymak Square, and the National Guard was deployed to the site.
Kazakhstani President Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev ordered investigations into why gas prices had skyrocketed. “I instructed the government to urgently review the situation in Zhanaozen, taking into account economic expediency and the rule of law. Demonstrators should not violate public order”, – he wrote on his Twitter page.
As explained in the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan, an increase in the price of gas due to the new order of its sale – through electronic bidding. They argue that before the transition to electronic trading platforms, the price of LPG was unprofitable for producers because the fuel was sold at a below-cost price.
The Kazakhstani government said it has launched an investigation into allegations of price-fixing and has simultaneously decided to reduce the cost of gas from 120 Tenge to 85-90 Tenge per litre.
Vladimir Lepekhin, director-general of the EurAsEC Institute, told VZGLYAD newspaper that the events may be an attempt to stage another “colour revolution” in the former Soviet Union.
“All of today’s new Kazakhstani elite studied in Western universities, for the most part in British ones. Therefore, there are very many agents of influence in Kazakhstan. They have nothing to do with Russia, and they promote European integration … In general, Kazakhstan is “played out” by the West according to the Ukrainian scenario. At the same time, the country’s leadership is forced to manoeuvre: on the one hand, they keep their capital in the West, and on the other hand, Kazakhstan needs Russia and the EAEU”, – the expert said.
In December 2011, during a violent crackdown on oil and gas workers in Zhanaozen, according to various reports, between 15 and 70 people died.
Russtrat