Massive protests have erupted across Kazakhstan following a steep hike in the price of liquefied gas, which is commonly used as a fuel in the Central Asian country.

The protests first broke out in the city of Zhanaozen on Sunday, where anti-government sentiments had been brewing since 2011 when police shot and killed at least 15 oil workers who were on strike. The protests soon escalated and spread through the rest of country, culminating in the storming of the mayoral hall in the city of Almaty on Wednesday. The President’s house in Almaty too was set ablaze by protesters as the situation continued to escalate.

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As per reports by Russian and Kazakh news outlets, many protesters are armed with clubs and shields, while some are even carrying firearms. The protesters, thus far, have issued no demands, nor do they have any identifiable leader.

While the initial protest was sparked by the fuel price hike, the spread of protests around the country and the ransacking of government property suggest that there is deep discontent among the people of Kazakhstan, which has been ruled by a single party since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Government response:

According to AP, police personnel have been involved in several clashes with protesters since Sunday, and have deployed tear gas, concussion grenades, and water cannons in the freezing cold in a bid to stymie the agitation. Police guarding the presidential palace also reportedly opened fire on the thousands of protesters who had gathered in front of the building, and fled shortly after.

In response to the protests, which are quickly spiralling out of control, the Kazakhstan government announced its resignation on Wednesday. However, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and his ministers will retain their positions till a new Cabinet is formed, and the President has promised to retaliate against the protesters.

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In a televised address to the nation on Wednesday, President Tokayev said, “We intend to act with maximum severity regarding law-breakers.” The President has also claimed that the protests are “financially motivated” while the police chief of Almaty has described the protesters as “extremists and radicals” who attacked 500 civilians and ransacked hundreds of businesses in the city.

As part of the government crackdown on the protests around the country, AP reported that Kazakh news outlets started becoming inaccessible late on Wednesday. The government has also declared a two-week state of emergency in the capital city, Nur-Sultan, as well as Almaty, and has imposed an internet shutdown to prevent the protesters from mobilising and reaching out to the outside world.