Police officers during a protest against the rise in gas prices in Almaty, Kazakhstan NUR-SULTAN, 5 Jan. Akim (mayor) of Alma-Ata Bakytzhan Sagintayev said that the authorities took control of the situation in the city.
& # 34; Behind attempts at destabilization and extremist actions are provocateurs from inside and outside. The law enforcement forces are taking the necessary measures to stabilize the situation, preserve security, peace and tranquility in Almaty & # 34 ;, — he said in an appeal, the text of which was posted on the Telegram channel of the akimat (mayor's office).
According to the akim, «now the situation in the city has been taken under the control of the authorities,» provocateurs and extremists are being detained, and the instigators are being identified. He called the introduction of a state of emergency in the city «an important decision to restore law and order, ensure public safety, protect the rights and freedoms of citizens.» . 
«Prices are rising, people are tired.» Because of what pogroms in Kazakhstan «I urge all citizens not to succumb to provocations and lawlessness. I thank everyone for the support that the akimat and law enforcement agencies received on this difficult night,» Sagintayev added. In the early days of 2022, residents of the cities of Zhanaozen and Aktau in Mangystau Oblast (an oil-producing region in western Kazakhstan) protested against a two-fold increase in prices for liquefied petroleum gas. The head of the republic instructed to form a government commission to consider the situation. She announced on January 4 that she was ready to fulfill the main demand of the protesters and reduce the price of gas. However, the protests did not subside, but spread to other cities. In Alma-Ata, the largest city of Kazakhstan, on the evening of January 4 and on the night of January 5, protesters clashed with the security forces, the police used gas and stun grenades. Tokayev urged people to show prudence and not succumb to provocations from inside and outside. He noted that calls to attack civilian and military offices are illegal. According to him, «the power will not fall,» but the country «does not need a conflict, but mutual trust and dialogue.» Later, the president declared a state of emergency in Mangistau region and Alma-Ata until January 19. It provides for a curfew from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm; 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. Also, entry and exit from Alma-Ata was restricted, document checks, searches of people and vehicles were prescribed. On the morning of January 5, Tokayev dismissed the government of the republic, which was headed by Askar Mamin on February 25, 2019. And about. First Deputy Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov was appointed Prime Minister. 