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Kazakh president imposes curfew in Almaty, Mangistau Region

The curfew will be in place from 23:00 to 7:00 local time

© REUTERS/Pavel Mikheyev

NUR-SULTAN, January 5. /TASS/. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has imposed a curfew in the country’s largest city of Almaty and the southwestern Mangistau Province, according to a presidential decree released on Wednesday.

The curfew will be in place from 23:00 to 7:00 local time, as long as the previously declared state of emergency in those areas remains in force.

According to the presidential decree, all public events in Almaty and the Mangistau Province, including strikes and peaceful rallies, are banned.

The document orders to "prohibit organization and holding of peaceful assemblies, public shows, sporting competitions and other events with mass participation" and banns "strikes and other forms of suspension or termination of activities of legal entities."

In addition, the document imposes restrictions on entry and exit of Almaty.

The decree says that "the following measures and temporary restrictions will be in place during the state of emergency: <…> restrictions on the freedom of movement, including vehicle traffic, in the city of Almaty, <…> restrictions on entry to the city of Almaty and on exit from it."

Besides, the document enhances measures to maintain public order and security and steps up security measures at important governmental offices and strategically important facilities.

The president also ordered to temporarily seize weapons and ammunition from individuals and legal entities in Almaty and the Mangistau Region, and prohibit their sales. He also imposed restrictions on the sales of 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. According to them, the price per liter of liquefied gas increased to 120 tenge ($0.27) since January 1, so the demonstrators demanded to halve it, to 50-60 tenge ($0.11 - $0.13). The president commissioned the government to assess urgently the situation in the region, taking into account economic feasibility and legal issues. The government commission arrived in Aktau and commenced work. On Tuesday, after the talks with protesters the commission announced the price of liquefied gas would be brought down to 50 tenge in the Mangistau region.

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