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Demonstrators are pictured during a protest triggered by fuel price increase in Almaty, Kazakhstan - Sputnik International

LIVE UPDATES: Anti-Terrorist Operation Launched in Kazakhstan's South After 168 People Injured

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The situation in Kazakhstan remains tense after the country was hit by a wave of protests, triggered by fuel price hikes. In Almaty, Wednesday demonstrations turned violent, with people attacking police and storming the mayor's office, old presidential residence, and other facilities.
A shootout is underway in Republic Square in central Almaty, a Sputnik correspondent reported on Thursday. At least 50 vehicles surrounded over 200 rioters in the city, and the military cut them off from the mayor's office and other compounds. According to the correspondent, there have been at least 10 gunshots, but it wasn't the troops who fired them.
Mass protests in Kazakhstan began in the early days of 2022. The residents of Zhanaozen and Aktau opposed a two-fold increase in prices for liquefied natural gas, then unrest spread to other cities. In the nation's most populous city, Almaty, clashes with security forces occurred on 4-5 January and escalated, with a violent riot later breaking out.
© REUTERS / PAVEL MIKHEYEVA view shows a burning police car during a protest against LPG cost rise following the Kazakh authorities' decision to lift price caps on liquefied petroleum gas in Almaty, Kazakhstan January 5, 2022.
A view shows a burning police car during a protest against LPG cost rise following the Kazakh authorities' decision to lift price caps on liquefied petroleum gas in Almaty, Kazakhstan January 5, 2022. - Sputnik International, 1920, 06.01.2022
A view shows a burning police car during a protest against LPG cost rise following the Kazakh authorities' decision to lift price caps on liquefied petroleum gas in Almaty, Kazakhstan January 5, 2022.
Throughout the country, internet services were switched off, and a number of TV channels were taken off the air.
Addressing the riots, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared a state of emergency and asked the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) for assistance in "tackling the terrorist aggression".
On Wednesday, the organisation decided to deploy forces to Kazakhstan for a limited period of time to stabilise the situation in the country.
Table of contents
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03:11 GMT 07.01.2022
Gunshots Heard in Almaty, But No Protesters or Police Are on Streets - Sputnik Correspondent
A burned car is seen in front of the mayor's office building which was torched during protests triggered by fuel price increase in Almaty, Kazakhstan January 6, 2022 - Sputnik International, 1920, 07.01.2022
Protests in Kazakhstan
Kazakh President to Address the Nation as Constitutional Order 'Mostly Restored in All Regions'
02:46 GMT 07.01.2022
WATCH: Russian Forces of CSTO Peacekeeping Contigent Have Started to Perform Their Duties in Kazakhstan
22:50 GMT 06.01.2022
IMF Carefully Monitoring Kazakhstan Amid Ongoing Protests - Spokesperson
“It is still too early to comment on the implications of recent events in Kazakhstan, but we are monitoring the developments carefully,” an IMF spokesperson told Sputnik on Thursday.
22:49 GMT 06.01.2022
Armenia Informs UN Security Council of CSTO Troops Deployment to Kazakhstan - Envoy to UN
UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - Armenia informed the UN Security Council about the decision to deploy Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) peacekeeping forces into Kazakhstan, Armenia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Mher Margaryan said in a letter seen by Sputnik.

“On behalf of the states of members of the CSTO..., I have the honour to transmit herewith the letter from the Secretary General of the CSTO Stanislav Zas, informing about the decision of the CSTO Collective Security Council to deploy CSTO collective peacekeeping forces to the Republic of Kazakhstan, based on the application of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev,” Margaryan said in the letter also addressed to the United Nations chief Antonio Guterres.

20:24 GMT 06.01.2022
WATCH: Belarusian Peacekeepers Arrive in Kazakhstan - Local TV Channel
20:21 GMT 06.01.2022
Protests Continue in Kazakhstan's City of Aktau, Group of Activists Block Road to Airport - Reports
19:54 GMT 06.01.2022
US Hopes Kazakhstan Gov't Will Be Able to Address Economic Problem - State Dept.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States hopes the government of Kazakhstan will be able to address its economic and political issues which have sparked unrest in the country, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Thursday.

"We do hope that the government of Kazakhstan will be able to address problems that manifested in these protests, problems that are fundamentally economic and political in nature," Price told reporters.

Price said the United States remains concerned about the unrest in Kazakhstan and urges authorities and protesters to seek a peaceful solution. The United States also calls on the government to restore internet in the country, he added.
19:52 GMT 06.01.2022
CSTO Peacekeepers in Kazakhstan Can Use Weapons If Attacked - CSTO Secretary-General
19:45 GMT 06.01.2022
WATCH: Store Belonging to Woman Who Helped Protesters Is Looted by Them
19:32 GMT 06.01.2022
CSTO Secretary-General to Sputnik: CSTO Forces Will Not Be Involved in Dispersing Demonstrations in Kazakhstan, Such Rumors Are Insinuations
Troops are seen in the main square where hundreds of people were protesting against the government, after authorities' decision to lift price caps on liquefied petroleum gas, in Almaty, Kazakhstan. - Sputnik International, 1920, 06.01.2022
CSTO to Dispatch 2,500 Peacekeepers to Kazakhstan, Number Can Be Increased, Secretary-General Says
19:28 GMT 06.01.2022
CSTO Secretary-General to Sputnik: All Member States Supported Kazakhstan, It's Vital
19:26 GMT 06.01.2022
BREAKING: Gunshots, Loud Blasts Reported in Almaty, Clashes Reportedly Taking Place in Republic Square
A view shows the mayor's office building which was torched during protests triggered by fuel price increase in Almaty, Kazakhstan January 6, 2022. - Sputnik International, 1920, 06.01.2022
Protests in Kazakhstan
Video: Renewed Shooting in Central Almaty as Gas Price Riots Continue
17:46 GMT 06.01.2022
UN Says Hard to Confirm Reports of Police, Protesters Killed in Kazakhstan
The United Nations has seen reports that police officers and protesters have been killed in Kazakhstan, but it is hard for the organization to confirm this information, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Thursday.
"We've seen the press reports. It's hard for us to confirm that but what is clear is that all demonstrations need to be peaceful,” Dujarric said during a press briefing. "People have a right to express their grievances. It needs to be done peacefully. Security forces need to protect that right and show and act with restraint."
The spokesman also said all UN personnel, including about 285 international and national staff and 25 employees working from Kazakhstan for the UN Mission in neighboring Afghanistan, are safe and accounted for.
17:46 GMT 06.01.2022
Anti-Terrorist Operation Launched in Kazakhstan's South After 168 People Injured
An anti-terrorist operation is underway in Kazakhstan's southern region of Kyzylorda, where 168 people were injured in the riots, Gulshara Abdykhalikova, head of the regional government, said on Thursday.
"An anti-terrorist operation is being carried out in the Kyzylorda region," she told the Khabar 24 broadcaster.
The authorities have declared a red level of terrorist danger in the region after 168 people were injured in the riots, 77 of whom were hospitalized.
17:46 GMT 06.01.2022
Afghanistan Calls for Dialogue Between Kazakh Authorities, Protesters
Afghanistan is closely monitoring the situation in Kazakhstan and called on authorities and protesters to resolve issues through dialogue, the appointed by the Taliban (under UN sanctions over terrorist activities) Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, said on Thursday.
"Afghanistan, as a close neighbor and a trading partner, is closely monitoring the current situation in Kazakhstan and is concerned about the recent unrest," Balkhi posted on Twitter.
Balkhi called on Kazakh authorities and protesters to resolve issues by peaceful means through dialogue and to maintain peace and stability in the republic.
16:59 GMT 06.01.2022
US State Dept.: Blinken Urges Kazakhstan Counterpart to Peacefully Resolve Crisis
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday held a telephone call with Kazakhstan Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi during which he advocated a peaceful resolution of the crisis in the country that would respect human rights, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said.
"Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Kazakhstani Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi regarding the ongoing state of emergency in Kazakhstan," Price said in a statement. "The Secretary reiterated the United States' full support for Kazakhstan's constitutional institutions and media freedom and advocated for a peaceful, rights-respecting resolution to the crisis."
16:59 GMT 06.01.2022
EU's Borrell Says Concerned About Situation in Kazakhstan, Offers Assistance
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Thursday expressed serous concern about the events in Kazakhstan and said the bloc was ready to assist in resolving the situation.
16:28 GMT 06.01.2022
Kazakhstan Security Forces Freed the Former Residence of President - TV
Kazakhstan's law enforcement officers have freed the former presidential residence in Almaty and have regained control over all government facilities' buildings in the city, the Kazakh national TV channel Khabar 24 reported on Thursday.
The broadcaster added that the main square of Almaty was also now under control of Kazakh security forces.
16:09 GMT 06.01.2022
UN Rights Chief Urges All Sides in Kazakhstan to Refrain From Violence
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Thursday called on all sides in Kazakhstan to avoid violence and seek a peaceful resolution of grievances.
“International law is clear: people have the right to peaceful protest and freedom of expression. At the same time, protesters, no matter how angry or aggrieved they may be, should not resort to violence against others,” Bachelet said in a statement.
Bachelet also called on the Kazakhstan authorities to ensure that Internet services are immediately and completely restored.
“Shutting down the Internet - in effecting curbing people’s access to information and their right to freedom of expression, assembly and participation, as well as a host of other rights - is not the answer to a crisis but risks fueling the violence and unrest,” Bachelet said.
16:03 GMT 06.01.2022
Actions of Major LNG Sellers in Kazakhstan Show Signs of Price Fixing - Authorities
Signs of market collusion and price fixing have been detected in the actions of major sellers of liquefied gas in Kazakhstan, according to the national antimonopoly agency.
"The actions of major sellers of liquefied gas in Kazakhstan have shown signs of price fixing," the agency said in a statement.
A wave of protests against a hike in gas prices across Kazakhstan led to nationwide uproar earlier this week, leading to clashes with the police, casualties, looting, and overall insecurity in the country.
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