A Kazakh flag bearer gathers with other protesters near police lines in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday. Protesters against the increase in liquefied gas prices clashed with police in Kazakhstan’s largest city and staged demonstrations in about a dozen other cities in the country.
Vladimir Tretyakov / AP
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Vladimir Tretyakov / AP
This week, Kazakhstan has seen some of the largest public protests since its independence from the Soviet Union more than 30 years ago – and a deadly crackdown by the authoritarian government in response. The President said on Friday that he has authorized the security forces shoot to kill.
Protests began earlier this year in a small oil town after a sudden increase in the price of a fuel widely used in vehicles in Kazakhstan. Since then, tens of thousands of people have joined the protests, signaling broader discontent with the Central Asian nation’s economy and authoritarian rule. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called the protesters “terrorists”.
Riot police march to disperse protesters gathered in Almaty, on Wednesday.
Vladimir Tretyakov / AP
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Vladimir Tretyakov / AP
Protesters set fire to cars and government buildings. Casualties have increased, including dozens of protesters and law enforcement. A regional security alliance led by Russia send the army to the countryside, to the country.
Here are some photos from the thrilling scenes that took place this week.
The mayor’s office in Almaty, Kazakhstan, was one of several government buildings burned by protesters.
Valery Sharifulin / TASS via Getty Images
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Valery Sharifulin / TASS via Getty Images
Protesters attend a rally in Almaty on Tuesday, after energy prices rose.
Abduaziz Madyarov / AFP via Getty Images
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Abduaziz Madyarov / AFP via Getty Images
Protesters attend a rally in Almaty on Tuesday, after energy prices rose.
Abduaziz Madyarov / AFP via Getty Images
A man attacked a police pickup truck during a protest on Tuesday, after the price of liquefied petroleum gas spiked suddenly.
Pavel Mikheyev / Reuters
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Pavel Mikheyev / Reuters
A police car caught fire during a protest in Almaty on Wednesday.
Pavel Mikheyev / Reuters
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Pavel Mikheyev / Reuters
A police car caught fire during a protest in Almaty on Wednesday.
Pavel Mikheyev / Reuters
Kazakh law enforcement officers arrested a man during a protest in Almaty on Wednesday.
Pavel Mikheyev / Reuters
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Pavel Mikheyev / Reuters
Smoke rises from the town hall building during a protest in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday. Kazakhstan’s Zakon news website reported that many protesters gathered at the building carrying sticks and shields.
Yan Blagov / AP
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Yan Blagov / AP
Troops at the main square, where hundreds of people protested on Thursday.
Mariya Gordeyeva / Reuters
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Mariya Gordeyeva / Reuters
A man takes a photo of the window of a police kiosk damaged by protesters during a protest in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday.
Vladimir Tretyakov / AP
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Vladimir Tretyakov / AP
A riot police officer stands ready to stop protesters during a demonstration in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday.
Vladimir Tretyakov / AP
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Vladimir Tretyakov / AP
Left: Protesters ride a van during the rally; Right: A protester tries to dismantle a security camera on a pole during a protest in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday.
Vladimir Tretyakov / AP
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Vladimir Tretyakov / AP
A police car catches fire as riot police prepare to stop protesters in central Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday. Local news reports said police dispersed a rally of about 1,000 people and arrested protesters on Tuesday night in Almaty.
Vladimir Tretyakov / AP
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Vladimir Tretyakov / AP
Protesters take part in a demonstration in Almaty on Wednesday.
Abduaziz Madyarov / AFP via Getty Images
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Abduaziz Madyarov / AFP via Getty Images
A man walks his dog near a burned-out car during unrest. After a meeting between the government committee and the protesters, liquefied petroleum gas prices fell, but some protests continued.
Valery Sharifulin / TASS via Getty Images
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Valery Sharifulin / TASS via Getty Images