Barricade outside the city hall during protests in Almaty, Kazakhstan WASHINGTON, Jan 5 The US State Department has called on American citizens in Kazakhstan to avoid demonstrations that have swept across the country in recent days, reporting threats of violence from protesters and mass arrests, traffic disruptions, and countrywide internet blackouts. < img src = "/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/9869c4144a60f46eaa9f0ef3f6284f91.jpg" />President of Kazakhstan Tokayev appealed to the nation «The staff of the embassy received instructions to beware of large crowds and were informed that the police are restricted in movement. Even demonstrations that are planned as peaceful can become confrontational and escalate into violence,» the diplomats warned. You should avoid demonstrations and be careful around any large gatherings or protests, «the State Department recommended to compatriots. Tokayev knows who organized the protests in Kazakhstan, the expert said.In the early days of 2022, residents of the cities of Zhanaozen and Aktau in the Mangistau region — an oil-producing region in western Kazakhstan — protested against a two-fold increase in prices for liquefied petroleum gas. A formed government commission said it was ready to lower these prices, but the protests spread to other cities. So, in Alma-Ata on January 4 and 5, clashes with security forces occurred, the police used gas and flash-noise grenades. Throughout Kazakhstan, the Internet was turned off, the broadcasting of a number of TV channels was temporarily stopped. President Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev introduced a state of emergency in Mangistau and Almaty regions, as well as in Alma-Ata until January 19. It provides, in particular, a curfew from 7.00 to 23.00; prohibition of mass events and strikes; a ban on the sale of weapons, ammunition and alcohol; confiscation of weapons and ammunition from people; strengthening the protection of especially important facilities. On the morning of January 5, Tokayev dismissed the government and said that the Cabinet was especially guilty for allowing a protest situation. He also said that he now heads the Security Council of Kazakhstan, having removed from this post the first head of state, Nursultan Nazarbayev. In addition, the head of state emphasized that the authorities will act as tough as possible in relation to offenders, and promised to «come out with a new package of proposals» in the near future. Follow the situation in Kazakhstan in the online report & gt; & gt;