BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 18
Trend:
Kazakhstan’s government has approved a plan of operational actions to stabilize the socio-economic situation in the country, Trend reports on Jan. 18 referring to the government.
The document contains a number of operational and short-term measures aimed at the security and comprehensive support of citizens and businesses.
Citizens and legal entities affected by the riots were granted a deferment to repay bank loans and micro-credits until the end of the state of emergency by region. "Atameken" NCE ( National Chamber of Entrepreneurs) has prepared the register of business entities affected by the looting [during the riots].
According to the results of the work of the governmental and regional commissions for the elimination of the consequences of the riots, the necessary financial resources will be allocated from the state and local budgets to compensate for the incurred damage.
Together with "Atameken" it’s planned to develop and accept a program to increase the income of the population.
In order to reduce the level of youth unemployment, the terms of passage and wages will be increased within the framework of the Youth Practice and First Job projects.
The established public social fund "Kazakhstan khalkyna" will allow needy children to receive modern and expensive medical services and medicines.
Kazakhstan's government announced late Jan. 4 that it was restoring some price caps on liquefied petroleum gas, after the rare protests reached Almaty following a sharp rise in the price of the fuel at the start of the year.
Many Kazakhs have converted their cars to run on LPG, which is far cheaper than gasoline as a vehicle fuel in Kazakhstan because of price caps. But the government argued that the low price was unsustainable and lifted the caps on Jan. 1.
After the price of the fuel spiked, big demonstrations erupted on Jan. 2 in certain parts of the country. Public protests are illegal in the country unless their organizers file a notice in advance.
Following the development of the situation, the government declared a state of emergency all over the country. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said the government initiated anti-terrorist operations to deal with the ongoing riots.
Also, the divisions of the united peacekeeping contingent of CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization) arrived in Kazakhstan to assist in restoring order and help protect strategic objects of the country.