The police in the country said they had killed dozens of protesters who were storming government buildings.
Protests that began in the western region of Mangistau over skyrocketing fuel prices have spread nationwide and to the country's largest city on Tuesday.
Police in Almaty used stun grenades and tear gas on protesters, while protesters attacked armored vehicles with bricks and set fire to government property.
Police said they killed dozens of protesters who broke into government offices, including the mayor of Almaty, which was set on fire.
Saltanat Azirbek, a police spokeswoman, said that dozens of attackers were killed.
She said protesters stole police weapons.
353 law enforcement officers have been injured and 12 have been killed. Azirbek said that one of the officers was beheaded.
On Wednesday, the government cut access to the internet and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said "terrorists" were trying to disrupt the country.
Protesting without a permit is against the law.
"Almaty was attacked, destroyed, vandalized, the residents of Almaty became victims of attacks by terrorists, bandits, therefore it is our duty to protect our state," he said.
The Collective Security Treaty Organization, an alliance of Russia, Armenia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan, said Wednesday it would send "peacekeeping forces" into the country.
An interim cabinet is in place after the resignation of the government.
The government removed a cap on the price of Liquefied petroleum gas, one of the most popular fuels in the country, which saw the price double almost immediately.
The violence has continued even after Tokayev instructed regional leaders to restore the price cap.
The legacy of the former president was decried by protesters.
Nazarbayev was fired Wednesday in an attempt to appease protesters, but he has served in a national security role.
