Kazakhstan calls on Russian-led alliance for help amid uncontrollable protest, eight deaths; Reports

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev appealed on Thursday for help from a Russian-led security alliance after failing to quell days of protests that resulted in the deaths of at least eight security personnel. Tokayev accepted the resignation of his government on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, the president imposed a curfew and movement restrictions on the southeastern city of Almaty and the western region of Mangystau, reports Reuters. Police had used tear gas and stun grenades late Tuesday.

A price cap on liquefied petroleum gas was lifted on Saturday, causing prices to more than double, causing demonstrations on Sunday. According to Radio Free Europe, the protests began on Sunday after price caps were lifted.

2. Almaty, #Kazakhstan's largest city: Protests continue… @TokayevKZ promised a tough crackdown, calling protesters foreign-supported terrorists, who, he said, were seizing buildings, infrastructure, weapons, etc. Credit: @AFP's Abduaziz Madyarov pic.twitter.com/WdbyrKZ2Er

— Navbahor Imamova (@Navbahor) January 5, 2022

In the meantime, a Russian-led security alliance of ex-Soviet states will send peacekeeping forces to Kazakhstan, Armenia’s prime minister said on Thursday, after the Kazakh president appealed for their support in quelling violent and deadly protests.

The Armenian prime minister said on Facebook that a limited number of peacekeepers will be sent to Kazakhstan to stabilize the situation after state buildings were torched and the international airport in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, was attacked