Protests planned as price at Kazakh pumps hiked

Kazakhstan

ASTANA, September 10, 2014 – Kazakh pressure groups are calling for the boycotting of major filling stations such as Helios and state-owned KazMunayGas (KMG) to protest the hike in gasoline prices according to a report in Tengrinews last week.

KMG’s August decision to increase petrol prices by 10 percent-15 percent triggered small protests in Astana, Almaty and the Caspian Region.

Activists urge the cost of petrol to be reduced to between $0.57 and $0.63 per litre. Edward Edekova, the head of the Independent Automobile Union of Kazakhstan, said that demonstrations will not force the government to reconsider its decision.