Unrest-hit Kazakhstan appeals to Russia-led alliance to fight 'terrorists'

ALMATY, Kazakhstan - Kazakhstan's president said Thursday his country was under attack from "terrorists" and appealed to a Russia-led military alliance for help, after mass protests plunged the nation into chaos.

Long seen as one the most stable of the ex-Soviet republics of Central Asia, energy-rich Kazakhstan was facing its biggest crisis in decades after protesters angry over rising fuel prices stormed government buildings.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said he had appealed to the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), which includes five other ex-Soviet states, to combat what he called "terrorist groups" that he claimed "received extensive training abroad".

"They are seizing buildings and infrastructure and, most importantly, are seizing the premises where small arms are located," he said in an address to the nation early Thursday.

He added that they had also commandeered five planes at the airport in the country's biggest city Almaty and said that Kazakhstan's air forces were engaged in a "stubborn battle" near the city.

"I intend to act as tough as possible... Together we will overcome this black period in the history of Kazakhstan," he said.

In Almaty on Wednesday night, AFP correspondents saw hundreds of protesters -- some wearing helmets -- gathered in the city centre and parading a police vehicle draped with Kazakh flags.

Videos on social media showed protesters seizing weapons, while others showed mostly empty streets with the sound of explosions and automatic weapons firing in the background, after local authorities announced the start of "anti-terrorist" operations.

Protests spread across the nation of 19 million this week in outrage over a New Year increase in prices for liquid petroleum gas (LPG), which is widely used to fuel cars in the west of the country.

Thousands took to the streets in Almaty and in the western province of Mangystau, saying the price rise was unfair given oil and gas exporter Kazakhstan's vast energy reserves.

- Stun grenades, tear gas - After a night of unrest that saw more than 200 people detained, several thousand protesters stormed the mayor's office in Almaty on Wednesday afternoon and appeared to have seized control of the building.

Police fired stun grenades and tear gas at the crowd, some armed with batons and shields seized from police, but were unable to prevent them from entering the building, an AFP correspondent at the scene said.

Local media said protesters then set their sights on the presidential residence in Almaty. Both it and the mayor's office were reported to be in flames.

Several flights from Moscow to cities in Kazakhstan were cancelled or postponed on Wednesday night after reports that protesters had seized the Almaty airport.

Kazakh media reported that at least eight police officers and military servicemen were killed in the unrest, including two while clearing the airport.

The full picture of the chaos was slow to emerged after authorities disrupted communications, including a nationwide shutdown of the internet, the blocking of online messengers and cuts to mobile phone services.

The full picture of the chaos was still emerging after authorities disrupted communications for several hours on Wednesday, including a nationwide shutdown of the internet, the blocking of online messengers and cuts to mobile phone services.

The protests are the biggest threat so far to the regime established by Kazakhstan's founding president Nursultan Nazarbayev, who stepped down in 2019 and hand-picked Tokayev as his successor.

Tokayev tried to head off further unrest by announcing the resignation of the government headed by Prime Minister Askar Mamin early on Wednesday.

He also announced he was taking over from Nazarbayev as head of the powerful security council, a surprise move given the ex-president's continued influence.

But with protests escalating, the government late on Wednesday said a state of emergency declared in protest-hit areas would be extended nationwide and in effect until January 19.

It imposes an overnight curfew, restricts movements and bans mass gatherings.

- 'Old Man Out!' - Much of the anger appeared directed at Nazarbayev, who is 81 and had ruled Kazakhstan since 1989 before handing power to Tokayev.

Many protesters shouted "Old Man Out!" in reference to Nazarbayev and images posted on social media showed a statue of the ex-president being torn down.

"Kazakhs are accustomed to patience, but we have grown tired," protester Rafik Jarylkasyn told AFP in Almaty.

"We've had enough." Moscow, a close ally of the Kazakhstan regime, called for a "peaceful solution... through dialogue, not through street riots and violation of laws."

The EU and the UN called for "restraint" on all sides, while Washington urged authorities to allow protesters to "express themselves peacefully."

Kazakhstan's government tolerates little real opposition and has been accused of silencing independent voices.

Spontaneous, unsanctioned protests are illegal despite a 2020 law that eased some restrictions on freedom of assembly. - AFP