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The fuel prices caused protests in one region. The others joined in solidarity. But after seeing how much support the protests have, more people started joining
by gnull 5y ago
The fuel prices caused protests in one region. The others joined in solidarity. But after seeing how much support the protests have, more people started joining and the protest became political, demanding to change the regime.
In Almaty, the protests got violent with killings and mass looting. A few other cities saw looting and destruction of ex-president's statues, but most of Kazakhstan was peaceful, including the place where the original gas-price protests started. The violence part does not represent the sentiment of the majority, I would bet, it's something organized; I don't know by whom and for what reason.
- reducesuffering 5y agoAnother commenter mentioned that due to recent rising gas prices, it's become very profitable for smugglers to transport LPG across the border to Kyrgyzstan and China, selling for up to 3x the price (buy at subsidized Kazakh prices, sell at market rate). This black market is so profitable for the usually low-income Kazakhs, that organized crime has sprung up around it (a la Al Capone). The government decreased the subsidies due to this discrepancy, and organized crime around Almaty is the one encouraging and enflaming the protests to ensure their profitable smuggling.
- anonair 5y agoEspecially that there is a clear pattern of looted and untouched property (if you look closely to the property owner).
- gnull 5y agoOh, really? What's the pattern? (I'm not in Almaty, so I can't see it myself.)