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Comment by ilaksh | Hacker News Reader

Maybe you can help me here. My reading of the situation is that it was an attempted revolution against a dictator after he made a devastating unilateral decision to raise prices for a critical fuel. Am I missing something?

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The raise of fuel prices was an immediate cause but it probably was long burning dissatisfaction with the economic hardships of the masses vs. prosperous kleptocratic elite.

On the other hand it seems that the economy of Kazakhstan was one of the best among other stans. It is possible that prolonged covid restrictions also played the role.

No no no, it's all the war between US and Russia, people are just dust, they can only be manipulated! /s

(this is what every russian bot is saying)

You're right about something. But civil and peaceful protests cannot be so well organized and take place so quickly and occupy so many significant places. It looks too organized and therefore suspicious. Perhaps people are dissatisfied with the authorities and living conditions, but perhaps someone is trying to use the protests to their advantage and manage them.

Fire doesn't need any organization. It just needs oxygen and a spark. And I don't see how these protests are "well organized". People are just running, burning, and disabling government buildings. It's just like fire to me.

The US does that sort of thing, in general. But so far, the US hasn't been terribly subtle about it. Usually when the US government wants to get rid of a government, you'll know it (if you pay attention). Where are the "National Endowment for Democracy"-funded front groups? Where's the immediate condemnation of the couped leader?

I don't say It's necessary US. It maybe some elites(or oligarchs), but maybe and foreign intelligence trying to control people actions...

Civil and peaceful protests work in democracies, not in tyrannies. If you don't believe me ask Belorussians how peace is going for them. Dictator is called that for a reason, you won't impress him with flashlights, songs, and dances even if the whole country is dancing.

TL;DR: do not bring a flashlight or guitar to a gun fight. Drinks (cocktails in particular) on the other hand...

Is it not against the rules to keep calling other users bots simply because they do not agree with you?

I don't call other users bots. I understand that people can have an opinion that coincides with what Russian propaganda impose. In this case, the fact that they sound the same as Russian bots is completely unrelated to me, my opinions, or my comments.

The fuel prices caused protests in one region. The others joined in solidarity. But after seeing how much support the protests have, more people started joining and the protest became political, demanding to change the regime.

In Almaty, the protests got violent with killings and mass looting. A few other cities saw looting and destruction of ex-president's statues, but most of Kazakhstan was peaceful, including the place where the original gas-price protests started. The violence part does not represent the sentiment of the majority, I would bet, it's something organized; I don't know by whom and for what reason.

Especially that there is a clear pattern of looted and untouched property (if you look closely to the property owner).

Oh, really? What's the pattern? (I'm not in Almaty, so I can't see it myself.)

Another commenter mentioned that due to recent rising gas prices, it's become very profitable for smugglers to transport LPG across the border to Kyrgyzstan and China, selling for up to 3x the price (buy at subsidized Kazakh prices, sell at market rate). This black market is so profitable for the usually low-income Kazakhs, that organized crime has sprung up around it (a la Al Capone). The government decreased the subsidies due to this discrepancy, and organized crime around Almaty is the one encouraging and enflaming the protests to ensure their profitable smuggling.

THe prices were still very low. And the decision was almost immediately reversed. Any economical problem can't justify violent uprising with takeover of an airport and decapitating of police officers, etc. etc. Never.

Our only source for "decapitation of police officers" are Russian telegram accounts which, there is no question, are 100% trustworthy (they are not; what happened to that poor "little boy in underwear crucified in Ukraine" that never existed). On the other hand, we've got plenty of evidence of police shooting protesters, including in the head. I'm somehow sure relatives of the murdered are not OK with that. I wouldn't even be surprised if they demanded revenge and acted on it (family means more in that part of the world and it's way bigger, too).

No, it is the official Kazakhstan source, not Russian telegram accounts. The uprising is very vioulent without any doubts. There are a lot of sources to confirm captures of government buildings and posession of arms. Speaking of Ukraine, do you remember a "burned AC unit" in Lugansk? That was not media, that was official Ukrainian statement.

> No, it is the official Kazakhstan source

Which source? The one that requested Russian intervention? Why there are lots of videos of protests, shootings, killings by the Kazakh army, and looting by unidentified people but only words of the interested party for this one?

I don't remember the "AC unit" but I do remember Russian media's "100% sure version of 2 Ukraine planes downing the Netherlands' jet" a few years ago (with interviews of "experts" all over the place). That was their position for a long time (maybe half a year, until they shamelessly changed it to "Ukraine BUKs did it"). The "beheading story" seems like a fairy tale from the same authors.

You don't remember the AC unit? Really? You can start from here: https://www.unian.net/politics/924578-luganskie-terroristyi-... and go on to read all the reactions of Ukrainian officials from this moment and on. Please do so. It's never too late to do.

BTW, it has nothing to do with Kazakhstan's legitimate goverment, which is free to request military assistance from an organization (not just from Russia, if it matters).

Based on what independent media report, my understanding is the same. Protests began after 2x gas prices surge. Local law enforcement was not able and/or was not willing to quell protesters. The president of Kazakstan claimed that protests are "terrorist attacks that sponsored and organized by foreign actors" and asked Putin and co. for military help.

Yes, the "foreign actors" part is an obvious lie to justify the Russia's help.

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