Kazakhstan roiled by fuel protests

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS - In Brief 04 Jan 2022 by Alex Teddy
On January 2 protests broke out in Mangystau over the brupt rise in the price of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Demonstrators demanded lower prices and for the government to resign. People have spent all night on squares in Zhanaozen and Aktau. There were up to 6,000 protesters in Aktau which is unprecedented. They called for an end to corruption and joblessness. Local people served free food to the protesters. Roads to the city were closed to prevent more protesters coming in.The LNG price rose from USD 01.2 to 0.28. LNG is used for car fuel. That is a significant increase where most people earn USD 200 per month.There were small rallies in several other cities including the capital and Almaty. Only 20 people have been arrested. In Nursultan City the government shut the mobile internet temporarily to prevent the opposition from organizing. In Almaty the main square was shut for ''repairs''. This was presumably to forfend an opposition gathering. The police arrested the usual suspects.Zhanaozen is a poignant place because in 2011 the police shot 100 unarmed protesters there. The exiled leader of the banned Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan called for protests. The authorities take this very seriously.Kazakhstan does not allow protests without prior permission and permission is almost never granted. President Tokayev has said he will find a solution to the protesters' grievances. The government has said it will regulate LNG prices but has not said how. The government wants to deal with people's financial problems and prevent the protests from turning into something specifically political.

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