Government of Kazakhstan dismissed, is Nazarbayev next in line?

First Deputy Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov became the interim prime minister, it follows from the presidential decree.

Other members of the government will remain in office until the approval of the new cabinet. The presidential decree entered into force.

In another presidential decree, Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev appointed a new secretary of state. It was a former aide to the president Erlan Karin. He changed positions Krymbek Kusherbayev, who has been Secretary of State since 2019.

Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Murat Nurtleu became the first deputy head of the National Security Committee.

Recall that the protesters demanded to dismiss the government. People took to the streets first in the city of Aktau, and then in other cities: Nur-Sultan, Taraz, Shymkent and Kokshetau, protesting against the double increase in gas prices. The resource price increased from 60 tenge to 120. The demonstrators demanded to return it to 50 tenge.

The country's authorities on Tuesday, January 5, promised to do this. However, this did not calm the demonstrators. They demanded that the government be dismissed. And most importantly, they demand the resignation of not only the cabinet of ministers, but the "father of the nation" Nursultan Nazarbayev, after whose name the capital of the country is named.

Recall that after leaving the presidency, Nazarbayev became Chairman of the Security Council of Kazakhstan and a Member of the Constitutional Council. Despite the formal estrangement from the executive branch, Kazakhs still believe that it is he, and not President Tokayev, who makes the main decisions.

In the Mangistau region, a state of emergency was introduced until January 19, as well as a curfew. Residents are prohibited from leaving their homes after 11 pm and until 7 am. Entry into the territory of the region and exit from it is prohibited. Mass events, sale of weapons and alcohol are prohibited.