In the capital of Kazakhstan, Nur-Sultan, and the city of republican significance, Alma-Ata, the Internet and telephone communications were cut off on Wednesday, according to the correspondents of the Interfax-Kazakhstan agency.

The shutdown happened almost simultaneously at about 17:00 local time.

The Kazakh websites, including a number of media outlets, were not available abroad, residents of the republic reported problems with communication.

Kazakhstanis abroad report that they can hardly contact their relatives in Nur-Sultan and Alma-Ata by telephone and through popular messengers, Interfax reports.

Rallies against the sharp increase in prices for liquefied gas began in Kazakhstan on January 2 in Zhanaozen (a city in the Mangistau region, in western Kazakhstan). They then escalated into massive protests across the country with economic and political demands. On January 4 and 5, protesters clashed with security forces in Almaty. There are casualties on both sides.

President of the country Kassym-Jomart Tokayev introduced a state of emergency in Nur-Sultan, Alma-Ata, as well as in Mangistau and Almaty regions for the period until January 19 and a curfew, which will operate from 11pm till 7 am. On the morning of January 5, the government of Kazakhstan was dismissed.