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In-depth reporting and analysisF
or many Kazakhs, the full
story behind the unrest of last
week remains as murky as the
mist that enveloped Almaty ,
the country’s largest city and the
centre of violence, at the same time.
People were unable to access
accurate information, as an internet
blackout froze almost all access to
the outside world during a tragic few
days in which military vehicles rolled
through the streets, government build-
ings burned and state television carried
threats that “bandits and terrorists”
would be eliminated without mercy.
By Shaun Walker B y last weekend, both order and
Fuel to f ire
How peaceful
protests
spiralled into
bloodshed
Continued ▲ Troops guard
the main square
in Almaty.
Authorities
said 163 people
were killed after
protests, initially
over fuel prices,
turned deadly
last week
MARIYA GORDEYEVA/
REUTERSthe internet had been largely restored,
but there are still more questions than
answers. One thing that is clear is
many of the old assumptions about
Kazakhstan, the resource-rich Central
Asian state, have been overturned.
Just last month the country
cele brated the 30th anniversary of its
independence, with offi cial speeches
highlighting the image of a peaceful,
prosperous nation.
Kazakhstan, it seemed, had even
successfully managed the tricky
transition out of power from its long-
standing president, Nursultan Naz-
arbayev , who led the country fromUNITED KINGDOM
After Andrew’s
disgrace, can the
royals rebound?
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KAZAKHSTAN