Kazakhstan protests and demonstrations

Wei Jinshen, an associate professor at Lanzhou University's School of Politics and International Relations, told China Business News that the protests in Kazakhstan were the result of an increase in the price of liquefied natural gas (LNG). 2019 is the year when the Kazakh government plans to integrate LNG trading into the electronic trading platform and the stock market, and a transition period has been set up for this purpose. The year 2022 coincides with the change of the old and new trading systems. The government's initial intention is to end subsidies on domestic energy prices and return decisions to the market.

Some oil and gas enterprises went on strike

Kazakhstan is one of the world's major oil producers and exporters, said Wei Jinshen. Affected by the protests, some oil and gas enterprises in Kazakhstan went on strike. "Currently, international crude oil prices are hovering at a high level, and if the Kazakh government cannot quickly calm the domestic situation, the situation in the international energy market will not be optimistic."

Future developments

Overall, President Tokaev has been relatively moderate in his attitude and measures in dealing with the protests within Kazakhstan, said Wei Jinshen. "However, there are divergent views on this among the political elite groups and government personnel within Kazakhstan." He argued that the measures taken by Tokaev, whether it was declaring a state of emergency in the country, accepting the resignation of the government, making personnel changes, and promising to reduce LNG prices and ensure people's livelihoods, were very responsive and targeted, "but due to the change in the demands of the protesters, the subsequent developments are not optimistic ".