10 January 2022

The Internet has resumed in Kazakhstan's largest city, Almaty, after a five-day blackout prompted by deadly unrest centered on the commercial center of 1.8 million people.

RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reported that Internet service began to return early on January 10, with users able to access websites and messaging services again.

The Internet had been restricted and telecommunication services patchy, often making understanding the situation on the ground murky since nationwide protests erupted last week.

It was unclear whether Internet service had been permanently restored in Almaty. In the past few days, the Internet in other cities, including the capital Nur-Sultan, was only available for several hours a day...

...[T]he government minister responsible for electronic communications said the Internet would return to cities “in stages” in order to ensure “attackers” allegedly behind the violence don’t misuse the service...