Almaty airport to be closed until January 10

Almaty airport will be closed until January 10, its press service told RIA Novosti.

Report informs that the airport earlier said it will stay closed until the January 9 midnight amid mass unrest.

Mass protests in Kazakhstan began in the early days of 2022 after residents of Zhanaozen and Aktau in the west of the country took to the streets to oppose a twofold increase in prices for liquefied gas. Later, the protests spread to other cities, including Almaty. In response, the authorities declared a state of emergency across the country until January 19 and launched a counter-terrorism operation.

Nearly 1,000 people were injured during the protests in Kazakhstan. According to the country’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, 18 security officials were killed.