In January 2022, Kazakhstan faced widespread protests and unrest due to a sudden spike in fuel prices. The government announced that it would be ending fuel subsidies, leading to a sharp increase in prices overnight. The protests quickly turned violent, with demonstrators attacking government buildings, police stations, and businesses. The government responded with a crackdown, arresting thousands of people and imposing a state of emergency. The unrest in Kazakhstan has been one of the biggest challenges faced by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev since he took office in 2019.