Kazakhstan says it shut down group that planned mass protests by oil and gas workers

Kazakhstan's National Security Committee (KNB) says it has shut down a criminal group in the Mangystau region that tried to organise mass protests by oil and gas sector workers. According to the KNB, the group sought to secure additional funding from JSC Ozenmunaygas. The information was reported by the Kazinform agency.

The KNB's Mangystau regional department said the operation was carried out jointly with the republic's Interior Ministry. According to the agency's version, group members acted in collusion with the leadership of one of the contracting companies. The suspects allegedly tried to provoke workers at the enterprise into mass protests to pressure the client into increasing funding.

The agency stressed that timely action by law enforcement agencies prevented possible victims, pogroms and looting among citizens.