Shootout underway in Almaty, Kazakhstan

The situation in Kazakhstan remains tense after the country was hit by a wave of protests, triggered by fuel price hikes.

Report informs, citing Sputnik International, that a shootout is underway in Republic Square in central Almaty. 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.