Central Asian state facing wave of anti-government protests provoked by fuel price hike
Kazakhstani security services have claimed that they prevented attempts to storm police buildings in the country’s former capital, Almaty, on Wednesday night, killing dozens of protesters involved in the attacks.
Demonstrators tried to take over the force’s headquarters and several stations across the city overnight, police spokeswoman Altanat Avirbek said on Thursday morning.
She indicated that those attempts had been curbed, while “dozens of attackers were eliminated.”
“Their identities are being established now,” she added, without revealing any more details.
“Anti-terrorist operations” have been ongoing at three police buildings in the city, according to the spokeswoman, who urged residents in those areas to stay indoors.
During the night, several hundred troops also surrounded Almaty’s main square and engaged in a gunfight with a group of rioters. The security perimeter has since been removed, and the soldiers have left.
Around 300 Kazakh military personnel arrived at Almaty’s city hall and began a ‘clean-up’ of the area to disperse the instigators of ongoing riots, reportedly shooting into the air
