ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- Kazakh police have detained protesters at an unsanctioned rally in Almaty against the recent devaluation of the national currency, the tenge.
Around 50 protesters gathered on the main Republic Square in Almaty for the rally.
Police had set up metal barricades ahead of the gathering and local authorities sent in snow-clearing equipment once demonstrators were present.
Police eventually repelled attempts by some protesters to break through the cordons.
The protesters then began marching toward the city hall, with their numbers growing to nearly 100.
Police guarding the city hall then began making arrests.
Most of the activists were detained, put into police vehicles, and driven away.
Police did not say how many individuals had been detained.
On February 11, Kazakhstan's central bank devalued the tenge by about 19 percent against the dollar, prompting widespread panic and the closure of many currency-exchange and retail outlets.
Around 50 protesters gathered on the main Republic Square in Almaty for the rally.
Police had set up metal barricades ahead of the gathering and local authorities sent in snow-clearing equipment once demonstrators were present.
Police eventually repelled attempts by some protesters to break through the cordons.
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The protesters then began marching toward the city hall, with their numbers growing to nearly 100.
Police guarding the city hall then began making arrests.
Most of the activists were detained, put into police vehicles, and driven away.
Police did not say how many individuals had been detained.
On February 11, Kazakhstan's central bank devalued the tenge by about 19 percent against the dollar, prompting widespread panic and the closure of many currency-exchange and retail outlets.
