President of Kazakhstan addressing nation amid protests

The president of Kazakhstan is addressing the nation for the second time in two days due to the mass unrest in the country, Report informs, citing RIA Novosti.

His speech follows the introduction of curfew in the country's biggest city, Almaty, prohibition of mass gatherings and strikes, sale of weapons, ammunition and alcohol.

On January 2, crowds took to the streets in the cities of Zhanaozen and Aktau in the Mangistau region, protesting against high fuel prices. Two days later, the protests engulfed Almaty, where the police used flashbangs to disperse the crowd, as well as other cities, including Atyrau, Aktobe, Uralsk, Taraz, Shymkent, Kyzylorda, Karaganda and even Kazakhstan’s capital Nur-Sultan. The president imposed a two-week state of emergency and a curfew in the country’s largest city of Almaty and the southwestern Mangistau Province early on Wednesday. The head of the state also accepted the government’s resignation. Its members will continue to perform their tasks until a new cabinet is formed.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ordered the creation of a commission to study the situation, and on January 4, announced his readiness to fulfill the main demand of the protesters and reduce gas prices. However, the protests spread to other cities. On January 4 evening, the protesters in Almaty clashed with security officials, who used gas and stun grenades.