NURSULTAN NAZARBAYEV

MOSCOW — (AP) — Kazakhstan’s ruling party on Friday chose the country’s president as its new leader in a move that further reduces the influence of former president Nursultan Nazarbayev, who dominated the country’s politics for decades. The election of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to lead the Nur-Otan party comes in the wake of violent demonstrations in January in which more than 220 people died and government buildings were set on fire. Nazarbayev, who had led Kazakhstan since independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, resigned as president in 2019 but retained enormous influence as head of both Nur-Otan and the country’s national security council. Tokayev replaced him as security council head during the unrest, in which many demonstrators chanted “old man out,” referring to the 81-year-old former president. Nazarbayev in November had announced he would resign as the party’s head; Tokayev’s election to replace him took place at a party congress.

Kazakhstan Economic Reforms Explainer FILE - In this image taken from video released by Kazakhstan's Presidential Press Service, Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev speaks during his televised statement to the nation in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, Jan. 7, 2022. Kazakhstan's leader has trumpeted ambitious economic reforms following the worst unrest in the country of 19 million in three decades. WHY WERE GAS PRICES SUCH A SORE POINT? They agree that gas prices (all over the world) grow, but in that case (they say) that ‘our salaries should too,'" Burnashev said. Discontent among ordinary people goes way beyond gas prices.

The leader of Kazakhstan has trumpeted ambitious economic reforms following the worst outburst of public unrest the country of 19 million has seen in three decades.

Kazakhstan’s influential former leader has released a short video in which he talked about the violent unrest that engulfed the ex-Soviet nation earlier this month. In it he also rejected reports alleging that he fled the country amid tensions with the current president. Nazarbayev also denied that there were tensions between him and his hand-picked successor, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. He also brushed off reports that claimed he had fled the country, and backed Tokayev's move to take over as head of the National Security Council. To quell the unrest, Tokayev requested help from the Russia-led military alliance, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, which is made up of six former Soviet nations.

Kazakhstan’s influential former leader has released a short video in which he talked about the violent unrest that engulfed the ex-Soviet nation earlier this month.

Kazakhstan Protesters FILE - Riot police prepare to block protesters in the center of Almaty, Kazakhstan, Jan. 5, 2022. At demonstrations in the largest city of Almaty, protesters say groups of armed men reportedly joined the peaceful rallies and urged them to storm police stations and government buildings. Clashes with police soon broke out, and by the night of Jan. 5, Almaty was in chaos. Protesters, however, say their rallies were somehow undermined, leading to the crackdown by security forces. On Jan. 6, security forces opened fire and killed dozens of protesters.

The mass protests in Kazakhstan that began over New Year's weekend because of high fuel prices were peaceful at first, but then something changed.

Kazakhstan Protests A police officer watches over a man as his papers are checked by colleagues at a crossing, on a street in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Monday, Jan. 10, 2022. More than 300 criminal investigations into mass unrest and assaults on law enforcement officers have been opened. As the unrest mounted, the authorities attempted to mollify the protesters and announced a 180-day cap on fuel prices. Still, over the next few days, the demonstrations turned violent, with dozens of civilians and law enforcement officers killed. The bloc authorized sending 2,500 troops to Kazakhstan.

With life in Kazakhstan's largest city starting to return to normal after anti-government protests turned violent, relatives of the thousands arrested in the unrest are seeking to learn the fate of their loved ones.

The president of Kazakhstan has announced that a Russia-led security alliance will start pulling out its troops from the country in two days after completing its mission

The president of Kazakhstan has announced that a Russia-led security alliance will start pulling out its troops from the Central Asian country in two days after completing its mission.

Kazakhstan Protests Vendors clean up their store that was broken into and looted during clashes in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Monday, Jan. 10, 2022. Kazakhstan's Interior Ministry reported that a total of 7,939 people have been detained across the country. As the unrest mounted, the ministerial cabinet resigned and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev replaced Nursultan Nazarbayev, former longtime leader of Kazakhstan, as head of the National Security Council. Nazarbayev had retained substantial power at the helm of the National Security Council. The National Security Committee said Monday that “hotspots of terrorist threats” in the country have been “neutralized.”Copyright 2022 The Associated Press.

Authorities in Kazakhstan say nearly 8,000 people were detained by police during protests that descended into violence last week and marked the worst unrest the former Soviet nation has faced since gaining independence 30 years ago.

Kazakhstan Protests A body of victim covered by a banner, right, lays near to a military truck, which was burned after clashes, in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022. The Central Asian nation this week experienced its worst street protests since gaining independence from the Soviet Union three decades ago, and dozens have been killed in the tumult. (AP Photo/Vladimir Tretyakov/NUR.KZ via AP) (Vladimir Tretyakov)MOSCOW — (AP) — The office of Kazakhstan’s president said Sunday that about 5,800 people were detained by police during protests that developed into violence last week and prompted a Russia-led military alliance to send troops to the country. Almaty’s airport, which had been taken by protesters last week, remained closed but was expected to resume operating on Monday. Tokayev contends the demonstrations were ignited by “terrorists” with foreign backing, although the protests have shown no obvious leaders or organization.

Kazakhstan’s health ministry says 164 people, including a 4-year-old girl, have been killed in protests in the past week that marked the worst unrest since the former Soviet republic gained independence 30 years ago.

Kazakhstan authorities have not furnished any concrete evidence of foreign involvement, but the claims may be more about offering cover for the government.

Karim Masimov has been arrested on charges of attempting to overthrow the government following violent protests that the president has blamed on foreign-backed terrorists.

Karim Massimov's arrest comes in the wake of violent, nationwide anti-government protests.

A New Year's Day doubling of gas prices sent shock waves through the country, sparking deadly unrest that has engulfed the Central Asian nation. But the origins of discontent run much deeper.

The former head of Kazakhstan's counterintelligence and anti-terror agency has been arrested on charges of attempting to overthrow the government.

Though the primary variant in play, Omicron, is distinct, the pain points are the same.

Security forces have killed dozens of suspected rioters and Russian troops have been called in.

Tension between Russia and the West was already sky-high over Ukraine. Now Putin's being forced to divide his attention with yet another crisis growing in a former Soviet Republic.

Kazakhstan Protests Riot police block a street to prevent demonstrators during a protest in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Vladimir Tretyakov) (Vladimir Tretyakov)MOSCOW — (AP) — Dozens of protesters and 12 police died during extraordinarily violent demonstrations in Kazakhstan that saw government buildings stormed and set ablaze, authorities said Thursday. One police officer was found beheaded in escalating unrest that poses a growing challenge to authoritarian rule in the Central Asian nation. Russia and Kazakhstan share close relations and a 7600-kilometer (4700-mile) border, much of it along open steppes. Russia has already begun sending forces, according to the CSTO, which also includes Kazakhstan, Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Kazakhstan Protests Riot police walk to block demonstrators during a protest in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Vladimir Tretyakov) (Vladimir Tretyakov)MOSCOW — (AP) — Dozens of protesters were killed in Kazakhstan in attacks on government buildings and at least a dozen police officers died, including one who was found beheaded, authorities said Thursday. There were attempts to storm buildings overnight in the country's largest city, Almaty, and “dozens of attackers were liquidated,” police spokeswoman Saltanat Azirbek said. Kazakhstan is experiencing the worst street protests the country has seen since gaining independence three decades ago. Kazakhstan has been rocked by intensifying protests that began on Sunday over a sharp rise in prices for liquefied petroleum gas fuel.

Police spokeswoman Saltanat Azirbek says there were attempts to storm buildings in Almaty overnight and that "dozens of attackers were liquidated."

Kazakhstan Protests Smoke rises from the city hall building during a protest in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Yan Blagov) (Yan Blagov)MOSCOW — (AP) — Kazakhstan is experiencing the worst street protests the country has seen since gaining independence three decades ago. The country sells most of its oil exports to China and is a key strategic ally of Moscow. Residents in nearby cities quickly joined in and within days large protests had spread to the rest of the country. Still, because the street protests are so lacking in focus, at least for now, it's difficult to see how they might end.

Kazakhstan is experiencing the fiercest street protests since the oil-rich Central Asian nation gained independence three decades ago.

APTOPIX Kazakhstan Protests Riot police walk to block demonstrators during a protest in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022. Police reportedly fired on some protesters at the residence in Almaty before fleeing. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev appealed to the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a Moscow-based alliance of six former Soviet countries, for assistance. Hours later, the CSTO's council approved sending an unspecified number of peacekeepers, said Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the council's chairman. Police fled from the residence after shooting at demonstrators, according to the report, which was filed from Kazakhstan.

ABDUAZIZ MADYAROVMOSCOW—The unprecedented protests sweeping Russia’s neighboring country of Kazakhstan entered their fourth day on Wednesday with violence, a declaration of a nationwide state of emergency, and the resignation of the government.As the country’s rich elite took off in their private jets, the “revolution”—sparked in part by hiked up fuel prices—showed no signs of slowing down. Protesters have set administrative buildings on fire in several big cities across the country, disarmed co

APTOPIX Kazakhstan Protests Riot police walk to block demonstrators during a protest in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022. Demonstrators denouncing the doubling of prices for liquefied gas have clashed with police in Kazakhstan's largest city and held protests in about a dozen other cities in the country. Police reportedly fired on some protesters at the residence in Almaty before fleeing. They have clashed repeatedly with demonstrators in recent days, deploying water cannons in the freezing weather, and firing tear gas and concussion grenades. Police fled from the residence after shooting at demonstrators, according to the report, which was filed from Kazakhstan.

The unprecedented show of public outrage has left scores of people injured and led to the de-facto resignation of one of the longest serving rulers of a former Soviet Republic.

A Russia-led military alliance says it will dispatch peacekeeping forces to Kazakhstan after the country’s president asked for help in controlling protests that have escalated into violence, including the seizure and setting afire of some government buildings.

Dozens of activists were detained in at least three major cities, including the capital, Nur-Sultan, and Almaty, with reports of independent observers being denied access or detained at some polling stations. (AP Photo/Vladimir Tretyakov)MOSCOW – Dozens of people protesting Kazakhstan’s opposition-free election were detained in the country’s capital and in its principal city, but were released after several hours. The country’s only registered opposition party declined to field candidates. More than 30 demonstrators were detained in the principal city of Almaty, according to the news agency Akipress. The Interfax news agency said more protesters were also detained in the capital, Nur-Sultan.