VIDEO: Protests Erupt in Kazakhstan

Nearly 2000 people have gathered in the central square of Zhanaozen city (Mangystau region of Western Kazakhstan) demanding the release of oil workers arrested in Astana, reports the online magazine Vlast.

“Zhanaozen activist Muratbay Zhumagaliev stated that up to 2000 people had gathered in the central square of the city, demanding the release of the workers detained in Astana,” the publication notes.

On Monday, around 150 laid-off employees from the BerAli Mangistau oil services company gathered outside the Ministry of Energy building in Astana, demanding to be re-employed by the KazMunaiGas subsidiary, OzenMunaiGas. They explained that they had lost their jobs due to their company's failure in a competitive bid. They spent the night and the entire day outside.

On Tuesday evening, police detained over a hundred protesters. According to the police, those detained face the threat of detention for up to 15 days or fines for participating in an unauthorized rally.