Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has sacked his cabinet and declared a two-week state of emergency in Almaty, the capital, and Mangistau, the western province where violent protests occurred.
Tokayev announced on Wednesday that he had accepted Prime Minister Askar Mamin’s resignation and had ordered the acting cabinet to reinstate price controls on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
He also directed the acting cabinet to expand price controls to include gasoline, diesel, and other socially significant consumer goods.
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“Calls to attack government and military offices are absolutely illegal,” Tokayev said.
“The government will not fall, but rather than conflict, we want mutual trust and dialogue.”
The moves came after overnight clashes in Almaty between police and tens of thousands of protesters calling for the government’s resignation.
An 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew, movement restrictions, and a ban on mass gatherings are all part of the plan.
