Protest Crackdowns in Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

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Worth a thread, especially as the state of play now includes Russian intervention. Protests exploded a few days ago after prices for propane and butane doubled overnight due to a long planned price cap reform. (This is a big deal. Tons of regular people in Central Asia have rigged their cars to burn propane or butane because of the low price—- to often hilariously dangerous effect). 

As things spiraled out of control, President Tokaev had the cabinet sacked (a cosmetic move as the cabinet and parliament are a rubber stamp legitimacy tool for the President and national security apparatus). He also removed longtime former president and “father of the nation” Nursultan Nazarbayev from the powerful national security council post.  Protesters have responded by burning government buildings, tearing down Nazarbayev statues and seizing control of a major airport. 
 

Tokaev appealed to the Russia led Collective Security Treaty Organization to help combat “foreign trained terrorists” and the first Russian “peacekeepers” have arrived.  
 

All this is relevant because Kazakhstan has long been viewed as the most stable and wealthy of the former Soviet Stans and has attested a lot of U.S., Chinese, and Western investment. Especially in its rich petro-sector.  In his bid to hang on, expect the already alluded to “foreign trained” card to shift to explicit blame at the U.S. and allegations of a “color revolution.” 
 

https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/kazakhstan-government-resigns-after-violent-protests-over-fuel-price-2022-01-05/