Police have shot and killed dozens of protesters in the Kazakh city of Almaty. The protesters tried to enter government buildings, according to police, after which officers fired on them. “Last night, extremists attacked government buildings and police officers. Dozens of attackers have been eliminated,” said a police spokesman.
It is the third day of large-scale protests in Kazakhstan. Witnesses from Reuters news agency heard shots fired in the main square in Almaty, the country’s largest city. There, soldiers are said to have clashed with protesters. Many supermarkets and shops were looted, ATMs were blown up. Banks are closed as a precaution.
Offline again
According to NetBlocks, a group that monitors internet connections, virtually all of Kazakhstan was offline for the second time in a short time this morning. Violent protests are raging in the country because the gas price would be doubled. That regulation has since been withdrawn.
President Kassym-Yomart Tokayev declared a state of emergency and enlisted the help of a military alliance led by Russia. It is not yet clear how many extra soldiers will turn up in this way.
No more flights
Protesters managed to take possession of Almaty airport for some time yesterday. The authorities have since regained control. Airlines in the region decided to cancel flights to the city as a precaution.
Hundreds of arrests have been made in Kazakhstan in recent days. The protests killed eight officers and members of the National Guard and injured 317 others.
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