The most serious civil unrest in Kazakhstan since at least 2011.
A serious challenge to the Tokayev/Nazarbaev administration - but also to Putin as Russia provides a security backstop to Kazakhstan.
While inflation might be the spark, I think there is an underlying undercurrent of frustrations in Kazakhstan over the lack of democracy - young, internet savvy Kazakhs, especially in Almaty, likely want similar freedoms as Ukrainians, Georgians, Moldovans, Kyrgyz, and Armenians, who have also vented their frustrations over the years with authoritarian regimes.
Putin will not want another coloured Revolution on his doorstep, and will be watching closely especially given on going tensions over Ukraine.
The Tokayev administration will initially tread softly, providing concessions before I think adopting a much sterner approach if demonstrations continue, mindful of the risks of Russian intervention if they don’t get things under control quickly.
Moscow has long had an admiring eye on northern Kazakhstan where the large ethnic Russian population in Kazakhstan is concentrated. There have been fears that in a Greater Russia construct Moscow might just annex northern Kazakhstan.