The situation in the regions of Kazakhstan where the riots took place has stabilized, the previously occupied buildings have been liberated. The Acting Minister of Internal Affairs Erlan Turgumbayev stated, RIA Novosti reports.

“Today the situation has stabilized in all the regions of the republic. All the previously occupied buildings of akimats (local administrations) were released by the law enforcement bodies. The work of communal facilities and life support systems is being restored,” Turgumbayev said.

It should be reminded that mass protests in Kazakhstan began in early 2022, when residents of the western cities of of Janaoze and Aktau opposed the doubling of liquefied natural gas prices. Protests later spread to other cities, including Alma-Ata, where protesters began looting shops and attacking government buildings. In response, the authorities declared a state of emergency throughout the country until January 19 and launched an anti-terrorist operation.

On the morning of 5 January, the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomrat Tokayev, dissolved the government and became the head of the Security Council. At the first session of the Security Council chaired by him, Tokayev described the situation in Kazakhstan as undermining the integrity of the state and said that he had asked the CSTO for help in “overcoming the terrorist threat.”

According to the UN, about 1,000 people were injured during the protests in Kazakhstan. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 18 security officers were killed.