Kazakhstan protesters seize Almaty airport amid unrest over fuel price rise

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Protesters have reportedly seized control of the airport in Kazakhstan’s biggest city Almaty as the country reels from violent unrest that started over fuel price rises and has led to the resignation of the government and a state of emergency being declared. In an attempt to quell the disturbance, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said he had taken over as head of the country’s powerful Security Council from former ruler Nursultan Nazarbayev, and promised to act with “maximum toughness” over the unrest. Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Tokayev said he had accepted the government’s resignation, a day after a state of emergency was announced in Almaty and the western Mangystau region until 19 January. Mr Tokayev has also tried to mollify the public by promising to lower gas prices – which had roughly doubled to 120 tenge per litre – and regulate the cost of other “socially important” goods.