Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev accepted the resignation of his government Wednesday following violent protests over surging fuel prices. Tokayev named Alikhan Smailov as acting prime minister, according to the president’s office, writes DW.

Earlier Wednesday, Tokayev had declared a two-week state of emergency after protests broke out in several locations. The protests came after authorities lifted price caps on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), allowing fuel prices to rise significantly.

When announcing his government’s resignation, Tokayev also said that the price cap would be reintroduced as a “temporary price regulation” for a period of 180 days.

The state of emergency includes an 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew, movement restrictions, and a ban on mass gatherings, according to official documents.

Covered by the lockdown are the country’s biggest city, Almaty, and the western province of Mangystau.