Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev accepted the government’s resignation, hours after it declared a state of emergency across much of the country in response to the furious uprising over rising fuel prices.
Tokayev on Wednesday appointed Alikhan Smailov as interim prime minister, his office said in a statement, noting that low fuel prices would be restored. Mr. Smailov was previously the First Deputy Prime Minister.
Reuters reports Political moves to curb the protests, sparked by rising fuel prices, which began in the west of the country over the weekend and spread to Kazakhstan’s main city, Almaty, on Tuesday night.
President Tokayev tweeted late Tuesday that the authorities would restore lower fuel prices “to ensure stability in the country.”
“All calls to raid or attack government buildings are illegal,” he added. blaming the protests about “destructive individuals who want to undermine the stability and unity of our society.”
However, in an attempt to quell the unrest, Tokayev said the interim cabinet will meet on Wednesday to discuss “the socio-economic demands” of the protesters.
Police used tear gas and stun grenades Tuesday night to disperse hundreds of protesters outside Almaty. But on Wednesday morning, AFP reports that clashes resumed after the government resigned.
Video images on social media showed a plume of smoke rising from the building, while gunshots could also be heard in the main city.
BBC quoted the city’s police chief, Kanat Taimerdenov, said that “extremists and radicals” had attacked 500 civilians and looted hundreds of businesses.
Atameken, the Kazakh business lobby group, said its members were reporting cases of attacks on banks, shops and restaurants.
There are also reports that crowds have gathered near official buildings in other cities and Internet services appear to have been disconnected across the country, the BBC said.
Dissent and protests are rare in Kazakhstan, which declared its independence in 1991 amid the collapse of the Soviet Union.